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Well yes he is quite the nasty piece of work, he is actually partially inspired by one of the farm dogs I grew up with. And well maybe she did but I wanted to make her seem like a normal person and not some distant and icy person

That dog really hates them Pict doesn't he lol. nice to see another entry as always and I can see the conspiracy against the throne taking shape.
What will be the reaction of the Queen and Ashild be when they meet again I wonder.

Lord Haakon was in a foul mood when he dismounted his horse and handed the reins to the stable boy, whom never lifted his eyes to meet the gaze of his lord.
His dour mood was well know to those whom served him and they went to great lengths to avoid his ire at days like this. As he crossed the cobblestone covered courtyard of his home away from that lay a few hours ride away from the capitol his mind went over the scolding he had earned himself with his careless tongue from the icy queen, that probably had some rather unpleasant punishments in store for him should he press his luck again with her.
That cursed woman was gifted with a sharp mind and also had some formidable allies to call upon, both seen and some that lurked in the shadows ready to pounce upon those that dared threaten the crown in any shape or form. So for the moment caution and subterfuge was required until cold steel and the wrath of men wronged could be unleashed to set tings right once more in the world.

As he placed one gloved hand upon the door handle he cast one glance over his shoulder, and looked at the servants that milled about. Hauling food, drink and what not as their master had intended to stay for some time.
Satisfied that none where planning to bury a dagger in his back he opened the door and entered his home away from home.
Inside he was greeted by his man servant that stood waiting for him, handing the old man his expensive cloak and gloves the lord of Daggerhorn asked his long time servant.
“Anything I need to know about? Any messages or such for me?”
The vulture like man that had served the Daggerhorn bloodline for many, many years answered with a voice devoid of warmt or any other emotions.
“No sire, noting of worth has occurred in the time you where absent from the manor. I took the liberty of securing additional supplies and beverage seeing how we will be prolonging our stay here.”
“Good, good Albert. I will be busy for some time now, see to that drink and food are prepared and sent to the library, if anything should come up fetch me if need be.”
“of course sire, would you prefer a cold or warm meal?”
“ it dose not matter, just as long as it tastes decent enough.”
“ I shall see to it myself sire.”
When he reached his library he slumped down on the sofa that stood in front of the fire place, he sat there for a moment before he undid his sword belt and hung it within easy reach.
As he sat there and brooded while waiting for the food and drink, and feeling the warmt seep into his bones the lord of Daggerhorn felt somewhat at ease for the first time in several days time.
A few moments after wards the door slid open and he could hear the familiar steps of his man servant whom where bringing him the ordered meal.
The butler set down the silver serving tray on the small table that stood near the sofa and with a stiff bow and creaking bones the man left his brooding lord to his own thoughts.
Haakon reached for the wine goblet and took a long sip and let out a sigh of relief as he felt the pleasant taste of the amber liquid.

“ Damned that harpy and that old wolf of hers” he muttered and poured more wine for himself while sinking his teeth into the slices of cold meat and various vegetables that rested upon the bronze plate, he did not bother with using his fork and knifes.
In his mind he went over the plans and schemes he had prepared for the very important council that awaited him come the evening.
And so the hours passed as the power hungry lord sat and plotted within his own mind.
He was only stirred from his own mind when a servant he did not recognize or really had any interest in recognizing stepped into his private chambers.
Rising to his full height and glaring daggers at the servant in question he spoke.
“What is the meaning of this wench! Have you lost the use of your ears? I said that I was not to be disturbed!”
The serving maid stood as if struck by a ox whip, but she somehow managed to stutter a answer to her simmering master.
“Sorry your lordship, but there are someone here that wishes to see you.”
“ Hmm I see, well spit it out you inbred whore! Who is here to see me?”
“ Baron Ingwar and Lady Silja my lord, they are both waiting for you downstairs. “ the girl stuttered while keeping her eyes fixated on the floor under her feet, hoping to avoid the scorn of her master.

Haakon cursed under his breath, and rising from his comfortable seating while still holding the letters and maps he had been studding in one hand he answered his servant.
“ I see, well then. See to that they are provided for and that they are served something to drink, tell them I will be down in a few moments.”
The serving maid nodded and hurried out of the room while thanking all the gods she knew of for having spared her from the wrath of his lordship and his whip.

Meanwhile downstairs his two guests waited in silence for their fellow plotter, one was a giant of a man clad in dull black amour and with a almost bestial look. His face was a complete mess of scars and other marks left upon him by the countless battles he had seen over the years, both as a mercenary in the service of various city states and after he had gotten his current title. His ruined face set in a tone that indicated that he was not pleased with having to wait, even for his blood brother to join this merry meeting of grimness.
Baron Ingwar Torson had been a faithful ally to Haakon for well over a decade and while not very keen on court politics and such the man possed a far sharper mind that he gave the impression of. Content to let others whom had the stomach for countless hours of scheming and skullduggery work out the details of the treachery they plotted against the queen, he had taken it upon himself to see to the matters of war and the raising of forces to fight for them.
In this matter his keen mind revealed itself, although this was by anyone’s standards much more encompassing than he had organized before. But he had taken to the task with zeal and had made much progress, even if much remained to be done.
Rumbling his disapproval the giant pulled out his bone pipe and lighting it he took a deep pull of it and let out a cloud of foul smelling tobacco smoke.
Manners be damned he thought and pulled out a chair and sat heavily down and put his feet upon the table.
“By the gods! What dose a thirsty man need to do for something to drink around here?” he said in a irritated voice and glared at the serving pages that now had emerged from the hallway with drinks for the two nobles.
As Ingwar took his first deep gulp of the dark frothing beer, a grin found his lips.
“Well IL be damned! Beer that actually don’t taste like virgin piss! “ he muttered and downed the rest of the liquid and signaled to the serving page to leave the great container it had come in at the table.
As the former mercenary sat with his dirty boots planted upon the table and drank his ale with a pleased look upon his ruined face, his companion however had no intention of sitting down and drowning herself with something as foul as beer.

This figure was something totally different than the giant she traveled with, unlike him she did not sully herself with drink, instead she stood tall and spun a finely crafted and long bladed knife between her claw like fingers.
She was a slender and eerily pale woman with raven black hair and lips like a thin red slit, her eyes where a deep blue with a hint of green to them, giving her a rather unsettling gaze.
It was no doubt that she was a beautiful woman by anyone’s standard but few of those that had tried to win her hearth had had any luck.
Most of those foolhardy men had been scared away by her viscous temper and the sharp tongue she possessed. And those whom had still persisted.... few of those was ever heard of again.
Lady Silja was a figure of dark rumors and suspicion, few members of the royal court was willing to spend much time around her. She also where rumored to be heavily involved in both the illegal slave trade and other far less savory trades that took place once night had fallen.
Hailing from a family that had long been rumored to be the hidden hand behind the demise of the currents Queen father and all but one of the royal family she walked a dark and lonely path.
Let them whisper and spread lies about me, I know my heritage and I know my day will come where I cast of the stigma of the wrenched pigs that has always sought to beat me down. And blame their own failures upon those whom dares act and force destiny to serve them she mussed as she stood waiting.
Pondering the resent events that had unfolded, more or less as she had predicted they would once she began to turn the wheels of considerable retinue of spies, assassins and other unsavory characters something akin to satisfaction began to fill her mind and a smile crept upon her face.
The satisfaction was almost enough to make her feel relaxed.

Haakon did not feel like dealing with his two fellow conspirators right now, but one seldom had the luxury to choose the timing for such matters he had come to realize. He would rather have spent the evening alone with the chance to clear his mind. But that was not a option now he knew.
“Greetings to the both of you, I trust that you have not suffered while waiting for me?” he said and took a seat on the opposite side of the great oaken table as Ingwar was seated at.
“having to ride for hours to get to this damned mansion of yours in winds that seems to have been spawned by the very gods, in the company of that now slightly pickled giant there would by some be described as suffering. But your handsome face makes the ordeal worth it” said Silja in a tone that made Ingwar almost choke on his beer.
“I have not heard from the others but I assume they too will make an appearance shortly, furthermore I heard about you and the queen. Now I don’t intended to make you admit your obvious mistake in that meeting. Although I expected you to keep your temper on a leash, at least for now. You know just as well as I do how protective that drake is of those whom she considers her friends and allies!” the clearly irritated woman said and fixated the much larger man with her gaze.

Haakon did not reply at once, instead he locked eyes with her and rewarded her lashing with a cold glare.
“I am well aware of that fact, and had I known that hag would drag the entire court out of bed and make us bow like peasants at her feet I would have laid of the wine. But point taken Silja, you speak wisely as ever. If a bit blunt.” he said as he took a seat at the same table as Ingwar and motioned for her to do the same.
“ Now then, I am very curios why you seem so agitated my dear Silja? Are there any news that the rest of us should hear about?
These words seemed to strike a cord with the lady as she reached for a goblet filled with wine and took a deep sip.
“ As you both know I have been busy stirring up the Pictish tribes that dwell along the thunder river. But it seems not all has gone as planned, I recently learned that a very sizable raiding party was cut to pieces when they stole across the river, their chieftain ended up as a living pin cushion. Apparently the townsfolk where far better armed and prepared than one should have had reason to relive. This alone would not be reason for concern, but the fact that a royal scout rumored to have been present in said town is. And one whom had just come back from beyond the border after a lengthy journey in the wilds that lies beyond that border.”
pausing to refill her glass and brushing away a strand of black hair that fallen down, and hung in front of her eyes the woman continued.
“Furthermore a little bird told me that said person is in the company of a towering red haired brute of a woman. Who it seems are quite the adept warrior, but furthermore she is a acquaintance of the queen from years gone by. Just how those two knows each other are a separate tale all in its own right. But they point is that she must not reach the capitol!

Dark deeds and forgotten tales indeed. Will they reach the capital without a struggle?...I hope not.

The plot thickens ... Silja seems an interesting character - I hope we're going to see much more of her!

Many thanks for the comments, and for those whom has read and not commented. Well thanks for reading, nice of people to take the time to do it. It means a lot to me.

And yes, Lady Silja will be one of the more prominent plot makers, and no need to worry. Bloodshed awaits them and the royal court.

The day was almost at an end when the trio of weary and tired travelers walked trough the tall and imposing city gates of the city of Halsa. The city that was the regional capitol, and the hub trough witch most of the trade flowed and where road weary travelers and other souls sought to tend to their tired feet and hungry bellies.
On both sides of the gate stood grim and silent soldiers clad in the livery of the local lord, and gripping halberds and spears while their cold eyes surveyed the people and goods that passed. It was clear to both Ashild and Brage that these men looked weary and on edge as if expecting some unseen enemy to leap fourth from thin air.
Dread voiced his own silent opinion by glaring at one of the men and growling while keeping close to his master, apparently he did not trust these men either.
They passed the gates without incident, and they followed the main street and began their search for either a inn or a hostel to spend the night in.
“ label me a superstitious man, but I have the feeling that we are being followed. That or I am growing paranoid” said Brage and patted Dread on his massive head as they walked.
“You are not wrong Brage, we are indeed being followed. Brigands by the smell of it. It seems the guards have done a poor job with keeping the scum out, or they where allowed to slip in when someone turned a blind eye.”

“Well damnation then! I don’t feel the need to fight just now, I need to sleep and tend to my wounds. That and I suspect I smell like a old goat and I don’t wish to die smelling like that. But how did you notice them? Caught a glimpse of steel or a familiar face perhaps?” said Brage as his good hand found the hilt of his sword just in case.
“No their stink hangs heavily on the wind and beside, men at arms seldom if ever go about without any coat of arms on their chests. They will wait until we have found somewhere to spend the night and then when we think ourselves safe they will make their move if they dare.”
“Well that’s mighty nice of them but I would prefer the night to pass without bloodshed anyhow” he said. To this Ashild only grinned a wicked smile and replied.
“Oh don’t worry, just because they lack the guts to fight in the streets don’t mean I do.” pointing to the sign showing the head of a wild boar and a foaming mug of beer she continued.
“Go inside, find a table in a corner and order two mugs of beer. This little distraction will not take long. “ she finished and gave him a push that almost sent him flying as an indication that this was not up for debate.
Looking down at Dread whom seemed a bit confused and lost she said.
“ Come on boy! There is wicked men to slay and skulls to cleave”
if the dog could have answered it would have been a grim one indeed. For the dog snarled and flashed his yellow teeth and came to her side.
Ashild stepped into a gloomy side alley and fixed her eyes on the street that lead to the inn, and with one hand she drew her trusty axe. Beside her Dread crouched low and almost seemed to vanish into the shadows that now where beginning to surround the pair as they waited.
As expected they did not have to wait long, soon a score of men came into view. Clad in the garb of sell swords from the west they walked with confidence towards the inn with one hand on their weapons.
Letting her eyes glide over one and each the half troll knew all too well that this was no band of sell swords. These where thugs employed by some cruel and devious master seeking to dispose of someone he or she considered troublesome.
She felt her blood beginning to boil and her skin growing hot as it always did before bloodshed and violence.
“So the rats comes crawling to do the bloody work of their cowardly paymaster eh?” she said as she stepped into view.
“Oi who goes there?” said their apparent leader and looked towards her with his squinting eyes.
“Pfff old man, are your eyes that bad? Truly whomever hired you must be blind, daft and desperate to hire such useless scum” said the half troll and grinned at him as she took one step towards them.

“That’s the half breed! Her lordship said her head is worth a thousand pieces of silver!” said the leader and drew his own blade.
“Where has that lousy scout friend of yours pissed of to eh? To afraid to meet us eh? Or did ya eat him” he said and grinned, clearly amused by his own bad humor. Several of his companions also sniggered while they began to surround the lone warrior.
“No my companion is more than likely sipping a cold beer and resting his weary feet and aching bones now. And I intend to join him shortly, once all you craven dogs are dead and dying at my feet.” she said with a cold smile.
“Come on lads! Kill that whore and then we can see about bleeding that other piece of gak!” the man said as his men surged towards Ashild with weapons ready.

The first man to come within her reach was armed with a spiked morning star and a sturdy looking shield, he swung at her. Aiming at her knee seeking to disable her and leave her vulnerable to his comrades, but however he was not facing some raw recruit or hapless drunkard.
Ashild sidestepped the blow and struck with her axe at his now exposed arm. The heavy axe cut trough the heavy studded leather and in a gush of blood hacked the arm of near the shoulder and with the return blow she stunned the man with the axe hammer before kicking him away so that he was not able to strike at her, her foe screamed in abject pain and shock as he saw his arm missing the the ruined stump that remained.
Avoiding a dagger aimed at her shoulder and rewarding the offender with a punch to the throat and using the hilt of her axe like a baton she further punished the coward that had tried to knife her.
As she dodged a sword trust and struck back like a viper and thus felling one more of her foes she became aware of the fact that a number of the devils had drawn crossbows and where attempting to line up their shots.
Cursing she dropped low to avoid yet another blow and catching a hard kick to the ribs in the process she sincerely hoped that Dread still where prepared to fight with her.
Suddenly the first bolt zipped by her head and buried itself in the neck of a man behind her that fell back gurgling blood.
“come on you flea infested rag pile” she growled and used her great strength to split one man from head to sternum, his blood showering her and the wet sounds of his guts falling to the ground with the stink of ruptured guts filling the evening air.
She half expected a second bolt to find its mark, but before the man with one bolt trained on her could release the steel tipped projectile a dark shadow exploded into view. With yellow teeth gleaming in the light from the inn and the dull light projected by the oil lamps that hung in the courtyard Dread made his move. As the man he had tackled tried to fend of the savage beast the massive hound raked his prey with blunt claws and sank his teeth into the shoulder of the screaming man and started to shake him violently.
A gush of blood sprayed Dread and the man he had in his jaws fell like a rag doll to the dirty ground and lay motionless with glassy and dead eyes.
The remaining crossbow man cast one look at his mangled friend that lay at the feet of this enormous and apparently man eating beast that had slain his comrade in arms.
Seeing this growing ember of fear in the remaing man the beast took one menacing step towards its next victim. The straw that broke the nerve of the man was when the hound let out a long mournful and yet filled with pure animalistic rage howl that reached up towards the cold heavens.
“Sod this! I don’t want to die” the man yelped and threw down his weapon and turned on his heels and seemed to have found his second wind as he sprinted away from the scene of carnage and horrors.
No sooner had he vanished from the courtyard a man screamed in agony and shock as Ashild struck with him with her axe, and buried it in his chest and in one clean motion ripped the weapon out, taking chunks of flesh and gore with it as it left behind a ragged and gruesome wound.
As the man collapsed in a bloody pile at her feet she allowed herself to look around, and she was pleased to see that the number of enemies where greatly reduced. Several men lay clutching wounds that would soon claim their life’s, while others lay still. But there was still about five more to go, and while some of them looked ready to fight one or two looked ready to break and run.
A wicked smile played across her bloody and bruised face as she took one step towards the men still standing. One gore stained gripping the axe that had claimed the life’s of their comrades while she used the other to brush away a stand of her red hair that had fallen down into her face.
“ It never ceases to amaze me how you southern weaklings think yourself such masters of battle and violence, I have slain men from Kels to the norther wilds. And I have meet just a handful of men worthy of such boasting. The rest have died like mewling cowards”
pausing to spit out blood and shift her grip she continued.
“Throw me that swine that calls himself your leader, and the rest of you whore sons may leave this place, if not.... Well just look at your comrades.”
The men in question turned towards their now pale faced leader who where slowly backing away from his now less than loyal comrades whom eyed him with unfriendly eyes.
“Now hold on lads...” he began to say as those whom had heartbeats ago been his comrades began to turn on him.
“Don’t listen to that half breed, she is just playing for time! Il give you all my share of the gold! Hell IL throw in all the coin I have!”
But it seemed the will to die for some distant and uncaring paymaster had gone out of the four men, each one was a scared and seasoned warrior. And they clearly had enough of the company of the fifth man.

One of the men, clad in heavy scale mail and armed with a curved saber and a kite shield broke him of.
“Shut your hole you yellow bellied coward! You lied when you told us about whom we where going up against, you told us we where gonna run down a couple of exhausted outlaws, and not some damned half troll and her demonic pet hound! I for one have had enough of your cowardice to last me a life time!”
Acting before the coward had time to react his shield as a hammer and struck his former comrade directly in the face, sending him stumbling to the ground, with blood gushing from his broken nose.
As the stricken man tried to get back up, dazed and bloody he found himself seized in the iron like grip of the other four whom now most definitely had disregarded any compassion for this wrench of a man.
“ Here, have the bastard! Gods know we wont miss him.” one of the men said and acting as one the four men hurled the disgraced one towards the waiting half troll as the man being hurled towards his demise cried out in dismay and terror.
Striding forwards like a bloodstained avatar of war the tall woman gazed down upon the man, that where scrambling to his feet, and feebly gripped his own blade.
“ Oh my, looks like you have fallen from grace dose it not!” she said and struck like a angry cobra.
The blow connected with her opponents sword arm and as he dropped the blade with a yelp of pain she followed up with a brutal backhanded blow made the man collapse, gasping for breath.
Looking to the former comrades of the man she spoke.
“ Let this be a warning to you and anyone you may meet, try to take the life of anyone I consider a friend!”whistling to summon her gore stained comrade, whom had been busy disposing of the wounded that still drew breath she gave the dog a simple yet gruesome command.
“ Dinner is served boy!”
The great hound whom had come to the side of the red haired woman he had come to like and see as a equal gave a loud howl of animalistic satisfaction and like a cat striking a mouse set upon the defenseless man that lay on the ground.
As his screams mixed with the sounds of ripping flesh and crushing bone, the former comrades of the man fled before the gruesome scene and carried the grim message delivered by the wrathful woman.
It was then Ashild noticed someone looking at her from behind, and half expecting to see some yet unseen foe she turned with weapon in hand.

Brage had half expected the brutish woman to requirere aid when the sounds of battle, and the screams of the dying had began to fill the air. But keeping his promise he had not gone out to see just what the score was, but as time passed he had been unable to sit still and wait. Damning the risk to the abyss and beyond he had risen from his seat, and with steel in hand limped out into the gloom. He had noted that the other patrons of the smoke filled inn had not done so, and daring a guess he concluded that they had someone how come to learn that it was best to simply ignore the sounds of conflict that came from the courtyard.
Perhaps this was not the first time they had experienced something like this, or perhaps they simply did not care. Anyhow it did little to improve the feelings he had for the city dwellers and their spineless ilk.
As he opened the heavy oaken door that was reinforced with heavy brass and copper studs he was unsure what bloody mess that awaited him. But the scene that greeted him was not something he cared to see or to ever see anytime soon.
At least fifteen bodies lay sprawled on the bloodstained cobblestones and above those now deceased bodies loomed two familiar shapes. One was unmistakeably Ashild, her flaming red hair and massive figure stained with blood and new bruises and cuts alongside her already impressive set of scars. The other however was far more disturbing, for like some hellish spawn Dread was busy sinking his teeth into the gory remains of a man, and the beast clearly enjoyed its gruesome meal.
“ By the gods woman! What in the seven shades of darkness are you up to? Are you intentionally seeking to draw down upon us the interest of the city guard and the whole city while you are at it? He said somewhat shocked and unsettled by the scene that had greeted his eyes.
His companion turned to see whom had interrupted her silent moment of post battle brooding and set her cold eyes on him. Answering him in a rather nonchalant manner she replied.
“Good to see you not fallen asleep or found some floozy to charm, and the city guard I believe are far more busy drinking themselves silly or whatever such men do after dark.”
“Well.... I came to see if you needed a extra sword at your side, but it seems you and Dread got it all under control. Speaking of, would you mind calling him of that lump of lard he is busy devouring?”

Well that's one way work up a thirst, and that dog is definitely enjoying all that far too much lol.
Well done as ever and lets hope that the guard does come along and in numbers to bring them before the Queen.

Hehe well slaying is thirsy work you know brother.

Another great installation. It's been awhile since I've read a good fantasy, I've mostly been dabbling in 40k books for awhile, and this is a nice break and is very refreshing to read.

Glad to hear that you liked my work of low magical fantasy then!

As dawn broke over the capitol of Kels silence reigned in the silent streets and town squares, only the footsteps of the soldiers that patrolled the city, and those of the people bringing fresh produce into the city could be hear along the creaking of wagon wheels and the sounds of the draft horses as they hauled the wagons along.
The reason for this was quite simple, it was one of the few days where manual labor and such where banned, and all those capable where expected to attend mass in the great temples and churches that lay in the hearth of the great metropolis.
As soon as the morning mist had lifted and the day had begun in earnest, the streets would fill with people streaming to attended mass and to receive their annual blessings from the stern faced and otherwise silent preachers that served the order of the Sisters Of Mercy.
These men and women where considered to be zealots by some whom saw them as noting more than the extended arm of the queen, and by others to be silent and caring bringers of respite and healing to those whom needed their aid. But those whom had a negative opinion of these hooded figures that could be seen drifting trough the crowds, or safeguarding the holy grounds of their temples and churches kept such words to themselves mostly, for it was seldom wise to go against the monks and nuns.
As they where the ones whom knew best how to tend to a wounded or sick man, or how to combat poisons or other pleasantries that one could be exposed to.

In the cool and silent main sanatorium wing of the largest of the churches that a man now had woken from the deep slumber he had been in for days. His fever had relinquished its grip on him and his wounds had began to heal.
But one look in his eyes and one would come to understand that his razor sharp mind had not been damaged by the brutal would be attempt on his own life.
Lord Simon Askhaug cursed under his breath as he sat on his bed, and endured the examination that the bearded monk where busy subjecting him to. He winced as the monk undid the bandages and examined the stitches that had closed his injuries, as he sat there and wished for the man to be done with it. He knew that he should have dismissed such thoughts since it was these men and women that had saved his life.
But that all paled in comparison to what he knew was to come, he knew that his lot in life was to make sure that the queen and her loyal subjects won and that the foul conspirators where severely punished for their crimes and sheer nerve.
“Pardon to disturb your train of thought my lord, but your wounds are healing well. And I dare say that you are fit to resume your duties to the crown, but make sure not to exert yourself too much. As they will still cause you pain and discomfort for at least three more weeks. “ said the monk whom had begun to pack his medicinal equipment while looking at the grey haired chamberlain with something like empathy in his green eyes.
“ I see, well my thanks then monk. I will take great lengths to avoid any unnecessary exercise then. Or bear wrestling for that matter.”
The bearded monk smiled at this comment and said his goodbyes and left the chamberlain to his own thoughts and the task of dressing himself. As he did so he pondered what would come next in these coming days.
As the old wolf struggled to dress himself without any help, he silently cursed the damnable monks and the sisters whom never seemed to be around when one was not sick or about to keel over from some ghastly wounds, because he would have murdered for some help with dressing himself now. His wounds aced and he felt the very uncomfortable pull of the stitches each time he reach for a piece of clothing.
After some time spent swearing and generally feeling somewhat helpless he completed the task of dressing himself and strapped his sword belt on and slipped the heavy mail shirt that had been left for him, feeling now properly secure and armed he limped out into the hallway that lay beyond the sanatorium.
As he emerged from the sanatorium he found a cadre of the palace guard awaiting him alongside the silent temple guard, in addition to the rather hefty compliment of armed men he also spotted a familiar face, clad in crimson red cloths and wearing his normal if somewhat exotic assortment of jewelery and amulets the Stygian seemed very much out of place here in these silent halls of modesty and reflection. At his hip rested the strange sword that he never went without, the Khopes with its odd desgine was certanliy exotic, decorated with ornate hieroglypts and strange patterns of decorative silver. His servant and trusty advisor never did anything to counter the various rumors that seemed to floath about regarding how someone from Stygia had ended up in Kels, and serving the chamberlain of said kingdom.
“Ah Seon! Glad to see you have not given up on me and moved on in search of a more unmolested paymaster” he said with a slight tone of humor in his voice.
The man in question clearly did not find this amusing, instead the vulture like man with jet black skin bowed his shaven head in respect for his master, and said.
“ Even the blade of an blood crazed assassin seems unable to cure your sense of humor. But non the less, it is good to see that you are well enough to depart this place. I have taken the liberty of procuring a horse for you, if you are well enough to ride or should I send for a carriage?” he said with a hint of concern in his otherwise steady voice.
“ Do forgive me, but I believe after being treated as a piece of meat and prodded and poked by various gloom faced monks and what not I am entitled to some humor. And thank you for taking care of just that, saves us some time. But on to more pressing matters, I need to see the queen and by that I mean in private.” as he spoke he also looked discretely around to see if any long eared passers by where to be seen. But all he saw was the two groups of warriors whom he knew never would say anything on the pain of death.
His servant however did not seem so concerned about anyone ear dropping on them, but he still agreed with his master. It was never unwise to be cautious in times as this with all manners of devils crawling out of the woodwork’s.
“ Of course my master, I believe the queen will also be keen to see you now that you are well enough to resume your duties. She has been here a lot in between her own duties to the land and the royal court. But I fear she has few good news for you sire.” Seon said and let out a sigh of something resembling sadness.
“Oh? What do you mean, have the nobles all ganged up and decided to rebel? Are the Picts invading or is the end of the world at hand?”
“Almost my lord, while you lay and floated between the realm of the living and the dead the queen ordered the royal court to assemble, so they could be informed of what grim deeds had taken place. This however seems to have backfired somewhat, as there was one group of nobles whom it seemed where not interested in hearing the news. No they seemed more intent on sowing discontent and resentment towards the throne. Their leader is a man you know all too well, Lord Haakon Daggerhorn it seems holds our beloved queen and you in particular in low esteem.”
At the mention of that particular name the face of Lord Simon grew dark, and his good spirit seemed to vanish like dew before the morning sun. Muttering a foul curse he answered his servant.
“That vile apparition of pure spite and darkness incarnated! How any man or woman can stand being near someone with the personality of a rabid dog is beyond me! Why her majesty did not have him strangled as a child is beyond my ability to understand! And now you say he has gained a good number of supporters? Well this is certainly looking to be a grim day indeed” he said as they came out in the great courtyard of the temple and mounted their waiting horses, here the temple guard turned and returned to their duties while the men of the royal guard handed their charges over to the waiting compliment of mounted Druzina that sat in their saddles, with their faces hidden behind the full faced helmets their wore while they gripped their own reins and took up positions in front of and behind the pair.
With a sharp yell the captain of the cavalry detachment gave the order to get moving, and so the column began to move at good speed trough the city, scattering the city folk before them as they went.

In the throne room where it not long ago had been the exchange of heated words and fiery beliefs there was now only silence. On her ornate throne sat the queen of Kels, her face a mask of worry and uncertainty as she sat alone and brooded. Having dismissed her royal council even if they had only been gathered for a few hours she did not feel like debating these matters anymore, her council members where wise and well skilled in their various roles and loyal into death she knew.
As she sat there and seemed to vent gloom and doom into the very air around her with wine goblet in hand and the crown witch had cost her so much to win in the other, she seemed far removed from the regal figure she knew she acted like on most days.
Just when she was about to call for something to help clear her gloomy mood away, the great doors leading into the throne room where opened and in came the the towering figure of the captain of the palace guard. His massive frame alongside his shaggy mane of hear and the great bear pelt he wore over his shoulders made him stand out even more than he normally did, one of his hands gripped the great axe he never left behind when he attended to his duties, some would think this paranoia or uncivilized but the past had shown his caution to be justified.
The warrior whom in the last years begun to show more and more silver in his bear and hair, walked towards her with haste in his steps and when he stood before her throne he knelled down and dipped his head respect for his queen and comrade. With a voice that had more in common to do with thunder he spoke.
“My queen I have received word from the Sisters, and they say that Lord Simon has returned to the living. He has departed the place of healing with a escort of Druzina and the companionship of his servant Seon. They should be arriving soon, but there is something else too. Last night after you had retired for the evening a carrier pigeon arrived from the city of Halsa. The message is for you my queen, no one had opened it yet.”

The queen sat up now and her eyes gleamed with a sharp glint of interest upon hearing this.
“Good news captain, good news indeed. I have been worried that my dear chamberlain planned on retiring early from his seat of office. And really? I swear if its another amorous backwoods inbreed fool seeking to swoon me I will be highly displeased.” she said as she received the small container the message had arrived in.
“Prepare to receive the lord chamberlain and make sure that his personal chambers are made ready. I also want you personally to see to that his retinue of guards are doubled. Anyone found lurking about where they have no right to be you have my personal permission to thrown into jail and then throw away the keys.” the ruler whom herself had begun to show traces of silver in her fair hair, she turned to look at the long tapestries that decorated the walls of her throne room, her eyes came to a rest on the one showing the last battle of the gruesome civil war.
“Tell me captain, was it all worth it? All the good men and women whom died on those walls. And the years of famine, hardship and constant struggle?” the woman who ruled over countless men, women and children said and let out a deep sigh.
“My queen, yes it was worth it! The false king was slain and his dark heartened followers paid for their crimes with blood. Peace was restored to the realm by your deeds!
“Ever the optimist are you eh? Glad you have not lost your belief in me then. It makes the day easier to bear.” she said and gave the man a shy smile as she walked by him and out into the corridor and set her nose towards the main courtyard of the royal palace with her own household guard falling in around her, seeking to shield their ruler from any harm.

Two updates to enjoy! Quite a contrast between the swaggering badassery of Ashild to the more introspective, plot-driven second part. Both great fun to read, though. I loved the image of Brage ambling off to get the beers in while Ashild wreaks havoc outside the pub.

Nice to see the Queen's trusty ally making a comeback. There's just something about the guy I admire. Maybe it's the name ...

 Necroagogo wrote:
Two updates to enjoy! Quite a contrast between the swaggering badassery of Ashild to the more introspective, plot-driven second part. Both great fun to read, though. I loved the image of Brage ambling off to get the beers in while Ashild wreaks havoc outside the pub.

Nice to see the Queen's trusty ally making a comeback. There's just something about the guy I admire. Maybe it's the name ...

I quite enjoyed making both, I find it very pleasent to varyie it up. And thus making the reading more intresting, and yes. Maybe the name dose ring a bell?

Ashild slumped down on the chair next to the one Brage had seated himself on, the woman was clearly exhausted and worn out from the road and the bloody fight she just had survived. Even if she seemed to be posses an almost inhumane endurance and will to continually press on no matter the odds.
The other patrons of the tavern where a quiet lot whom did not seem to be further interested in the trio whom occupied the seats nearest the roaring fireplace, where great oak logs where being consumed by the flames. One of her stained hands gripped the fine beer stein and lifted it so she could drink and sate her thirst.
It seemed to her companion that the hot headed temper that had raged in her just moments ago had vanished, and been replaced with something resembling sadness or weariness and something almost primordial that lurked just under the surface, seeking to break free from its confines of the mind of the warrior.
“You know Brage, I have slain more men and beasts than I can count. I have seen things most men and women never could imagine. I have been the consort to a rebel leader whom later whom the throne, I have seen the tides of evil crash against the thin line held by good men. I have felt the sands of Stygia burn my feet and and I have seen the black skinned priests of that strange land preform their ungodly rituals and ceremonies. But do you know what I have yet to hold in my hands and savor?” she said and reached down to pat Dread and took the pipe from Brage whom did not protest when she did so.
“ No Ashild, I do not know what you have yet to find. To be honest I know very little about you, beside what you have told me and what I have been able to piece together. If you have seen all that and still live you must be either immortal or someone whom knows how to stave of old age” he said and took a sip of his own beer while measuring his companion with a new sense of curiosity and a renewed interest in her adventuress that clearly had been numerous.
Her eyes gleaming once more with that hint of untold savagery and adventure as she replied while signaling to the bar maid that she required a new tankard of beer to sate her thirst.
“ Peace, I have yet to find peace and the calm of mind and body that I have begun to crave, and beside. It is my intention to see the woman I lost almost thirty years ago before my days end or before I fall to the blades of my foes.” the warrior said as she drank deep of the foaming beer.
Brage was about to ask whom just who that woman was when his comrade in arms interrupted him.
“ Before you ask who that woman was, know this. If you carry plans to conspire against her I will kill you where you sit! And if you are loyal to the throne as you say I will gladly help you, for there is noting I hate more than traitors that seeks to strike down their fellow men and women”

“I see, well that is understandable. Peace is something most never seem to find no matter where they seek it. I suppose those whom dose are indeed blessed by the gods. And regarding my loyalties, I have always been loyal to the crown. I was raised by a man whom resides in the royal court.... my father and mother went to the sides of the forest gods many years before their time. So I have no reason to be anything else than loyal, and I have seen what the alternatives are. And they are noting that tempts me, only wolves and crazed devils would seek to live in a land torn apart by strife and intrigue.” the man said as he patted his hound with one hand and the other tracing some unseen line on the table in front of him. His face set in a thoughtful manner as he contemplated some unspoken subject.
“ If we are to make it to the capitol in a somewhat fast pace we need to either buy horses, or failing that finding some other way to make it before the snow comes and makes travel much more complicated. Now I have a decent slump of silver left but not enough to buy two horses, with saddles and provisions for us both.” he said in a attempt to move the conversation onto something not so gloomy.
“ Do not worry about your coin purse, save them for something else. I will get us horses and whatever else we need when dawn comes, but now I need to wash and sleep. I feel filthy and that is a very unpleasant feeling to go to bed with” she said and rose to her feet and set a course towards the stairs and one of the two rooms the pair had rented.
As Ashild climbed the stairs and vanished into her room, where a steaming hot bath waited for her, courtesy of the serving maid, whom had also left a clean linen shirt and soft wool towels for her.
Making sure the door was properly locked and that the window was closed to keep the cold out she began to strip of her filthy cloths and the other things she wore on her person.
Soon it all lay in a heap on the floor and her heavy mail shirt had been layed on the chair that stood nearby.
As the tall and muscular woman sank down into the warm waters and felt her acing body almost groan in bliss she knew just how close she had come to succumbing to the beast that always seeked to break free and seize control of her. The very idea of the anguish, madness and despair that would lead to made her sick to her very bones. Cursing her own weakness and for allowing herself to paint herself into such an gloomy mood she poured herself a mug of cold water and drank deeply of it. As she did so, she began to wonder what the days to come would bring. Hopefully they would pass without any incident but she was not willing to bet on those odds. The attempt on their life’s this evening had proven that someone was intent on making sure that they died before they sat foot anywhere the royal court, now if that was because they wanted the message Brage carried with him or that they wanted to kill her was unclear but it mattered not.

Rest could wait she decided and slipped her feet into her hard leather boots, and picked her axe up from the bed where the weapon had been laid to rest while she had soaked herself in the bath, she also put on the heavy mail shirt she wore just in case someone wanted a go at her. One could never be too careful when dealing with the vermin that dwelled in cities she knew from past experiences.
Stopping by the door that lead into the room that Brage had taken she paused for a moment, and soon enough she heard the heavy snoring from a man fast asleep behind the door.
Content that her companion was resting and away from any harm she was about to go down the stairs when a low growl made her turn around.
Behind her stood the enormous hound and gazed at her, its yellow eyes fixating her with a knowing glare almost as if the beast knew she was heading out. There was definitively something odd about the animal she decided for no hound she had ever seen matched its sheer size and seemingly sharp mind. And then there it was its eyes.... almost the stuff of nightmares had she been on hostile terms with it.
“Stay here dog! Make sure no harm comes to your master! And don’t tell him I’m out and about! There is a leg of lamb for you if you can keep quiet” she added on a afterthought.
The hound growled and yawned, displaying its yellow teeth and pink tongue before sitting down as if it understood what had been said to it.
As she walked down the creaking stairs she could still feel the pair of yellow orbs drilling into her back. A unwilling shudder passed down her spine as she pondered where Brage had found such a strange beast to befriend.
The common room where now all but empty, the portly inn keeper where no where to be seen, and only a very bored looking serving maid staffed the bar. Of the patrons only a couple remained and and they seemed like the sort whom preferred silence and the company of their beer. So the red haired warrior left them to their silent brooding and boredom.
Outside a biting cold wind howled its lonely tune, and a fine layer of frost had begun to cover the cobblestones of the courtyard. The bodies of the dead had been carted away by some unseen party but the bloodstains remained and likely would do until someone washed them away or the coming snow covered it up under a thin layer of white.
Crossing the courtyard she walked out into the silent streets of the city, the wind and the sudden arrival of the biting cold had driven the townsfolk back indoors, and seemed to have placed a blanket of silence upon the city of Halsa.
Orienting herself by the various signs outside the workshops and various shops that hung outside the low and sturdy looking lumber houses made from massive logs of resin filled conifer trees.
As she did so she became aware of the sounds of horses and the harsh and guttural tones of that belonged to a people as savage as the trolls of the north.
Turning to behold the spectacle that where coming down the wide street she felt something akin to admiration for these wild and truly unbound men. The men of the east whom had migrated westwards to ply their trades as cavalry men whom put most if not all men of the west to shame with their deadly bow and curved swords and superb horsemanship.
The riders where clad in their signature blue capes adorned with ornate patterns of silk thread and beads of glass, alongside their scale mail the men of the Druzina passed her by, most of the men seemingly paying her no heed and most likely intent on finding somewhere to take shelter from the biting wind and cold.
Their captain nodded to her as he rode past as if to thank her for stepping aside for them, his leather like face broken only by his almond shaped eyes and his thin and narrow lips.
At least it seemed these men knew some manner of decent behavior, even if they smelled like horse and their guttural language was damned hard to understand. Watching the company of riders disappearing down the street and the sounds of their conversations fading in the wind she walked on in search of a horse trader.
She felt sure somewhere in this place a pair of horses capable of handling the snow to come and the icy wind that awaited them outside the city walls and the last legs of the their journey.
And after a short walk down the street she found what she had been seeking, a well made sign hung and flopped about in the increasingly strong wind.

A series of roughly made inclosures and a lone stable made up the place where the horse traders kept their wares, massive horses employed by brewers and lumberjacks stood and watched her silently as she made her way towards the tent where she suspected the traders where gathered judging by the sounds and smells that rolled out to meet her.
Drawing the heavy flap of the great tent aside she stepped inside and where greeted by the smell of warm bodies, horse tallow and the odor of men whom spent more time with horses and livestock than their fellow men.
She had expected to find perhaps a dozen or so men, but instead she only meet one. The man whom was of northern stock. With a sharp and narrow face and eyes that seemed to measure the world around him with a solid doze of skeptical. His thin frame clad in well made cloths of linen and thick wool and he had been coiling together a length of rope as the warrior had entered his humble home. He was clearly one whom had worked with horses and life stock since he could work.
“Greeting my fair lady! What can I do for you this day? Are you seeking to purchase livestock or horses? Perhaps you are interested buying a pair of mules that can haul your heap of loot and plunder?”
“No sadly I have little in the way of plunder or loot these days. But I need a pair of strong horses that can handle the cold and snow. And I also need a pair of well made saddles and supplies for both rider and horse. And I need feed for a hound and lots of it.”
“Hmm I see well since you are somewhat larger than the normal fair lady that comes to buy horses from me I suppose you need a somewhat sturdy horse. What size is your companion? And have you both much experience with riding and caring for horses? I wont sell any of my animals to some blundering idiots who don’t care for them and abuses them! Also dog feed I don’t have unless you buy a sheep and bring it along.” the man said as he laid down the coil of rope and headed out of the tent with Ashild in tow.
“My friend is a skilled rider, he used to ride a Pict border horse and we both are decent enough riders. He is of normal size I dare say, and well I suppose we will manage without any feed for the mongrel.”
“He rode a border horse eh? Hmm a odd choice as for a horse, few people want those things. I have a pair of horses that may suit your needs. I wont sell you my best animals as the damned nobles seems to have set their eyes on the poor things. “ the man said and let out a sigh of something resembling sadness as he spoke.
“ Nobles you say? Aye those oafs seldom know how to care for anything else than mistresses or a flask of wine.
The man did not take the bait she had provided for him, so she suspected that he was not willing to risk the ire of the local nobles and perhaps loosing future sales to them.
At the corral furthest from the tent several shaggy horses with thick manes and thick coats of brown fur to ward of the cold bite of the wind and winter. Pointing to the horses the merchant said.
“Here are the animals that are best suited to you and your friend needs, they can handle the wind and snow just fine. Just ensure they get enough to eat and rest. And for the sake of the heavens give them enough to drink!”
“How much then for the pair? And you haven’t shown me the saddles yet either! “
“Right... Well tell you what, go into the stable and pick two that suits your needs and take along the other things you need while I bring the horses up there. For it all I want two hundred pieces of silver.”
“ Two hundred! That’s a steep price but I can see that the animals are worth it even if I think its a bit too step for my taste.” she said.
Before the man could ask for the payment she fished up a fine leather pouch that had hung safely between her two breasts, out of reach for any potential pick pockets.
Tossing the pouch to the man whom had almost managed to hide his curios eyes as he watched her fish the silver out.
“IL pick the saddles then and I would be very, very grateful if you did not discus this deal with anyone, because I would hate to have to come back and ensure you kept your silent.” she said and flashed him her predatory canine teeth and headed for the stable, leaving the somewhat nervous merchant behind as she did.
With her purchases in tow and having relived herself of a small fortune in silver, she headed back towards the inn while. She decided that she would await dawn in the stable alongside the animals and then when it came go wake her companion.

Brage grumbled sourly and cursed the world at large when he was woken from his slumber by his friend, whom seemed far more awake and ready for the day than anyone should be so damned early he decided. But non the less he rolled out of his warm bed and dressed himself.
Strapping on his cold boots and making sure his sword belt where secured around his waist. Gathering his few belongings and making sure the room was as empty as he had found it the previous night he walked down to the common room with his hound close behind him.
Once downstairs he found Ashild sitting on the bar counter while nursing a mug of some steaming drink. She definitively looked content there she sat waiting for him.
“ Well then, now that you have dragged me from the warm embrace of sleep and out back into the cold and unloving world I suppose you have already secured horses and provisions then? And perhaps even payed for our rooms while you where at it?” he said more in jest than anything else, not expecting the half troll whom seemed to be the type that left the bill for others most times.
Thus his surprise was all the more pleasing when she answered him.
“The horses are already saddled and yes, I did pay for my room and yours. But your bar bill you will have to sort out yourself, the gods know I am not made of silver.” she said sharply and finished her mug of hot beef broth.
“I see and well are you not the productive one today” Brage said as he left the amount he owned the inn keeper and followed after Ashild whom was already at the door.
To the seasoned scout and frontiersman she seemed almost alarmed if not outright worried, and that made him worried too. Outside they where greeted by a icy wind and a few lonely snow crystals that fell silently down towards the world below from a dark and foreboding sky that carried the promise of a heavy snowfall with it.

I do like a good Hyborian tale and this was a good one...........

Many thanks, glad to see that someone can gleam what has inspired me greatly! And thanks for the comment

The calm after the storm. Nicely paced introspection, although I must confess I was half-expecting an attack on Ashild once she was in the bath!

Glad to hear that you all enjoyed it, and more bloodshed is on its way. If a somewhat grim manner!

In the gloom of the citadel that guarded the city of Halsa a cadre of black robed figures sat silently on their massive warhorses. Their faces hidden from the eyes of those that passed them by, all except one of the cadre seemed unwilling to reveal themselves to the world at large.
Lady Silja sat on her mare and gnashed her teeth in abject anger and frustration. The failure of the score of sell swords she had hired to kill the wretched half troll was not unexpected, but the fact that the nobleman whom governed the city had failed to put a tail on the troublesome duo that now had departed the city most likely was not something she was willing to forgive or forget. Her anger only grew when she thought of what Haakon had given her clear instructions about, she was in no way or shape to make herself known to the half troll. Nor was she allowed to seek out the savage and her companion and slay them herself, no he been very, very clear on that matter. And she dared not cross him when it came to matters as this, that she knew was to invite a most unpleasant end to her life and more frightfully to the affection he showed her when they where alone. So therefor she had been told to make sure that the baron that ruled Halsa and where loyal to their cause ensured their demise or capture. And if the fat pig failed she was free to show him what failure where rewarded with.....
Kicking her horse into action she rode towards the stables where several stable boys and their master stood and waited for her and followers.
The servants all bowed deeply in front of her and kept their eyes fixed on the frozen ground, not one meeting her gaze as she waited for one of her companions to help her down from her horse.
That soul in particular loomed like a black clad avatar of death as he dismounted his own mount, witch was clad in heavy barding and with a grim looking war hammer hanging from the saddle horn.
Armored boots scraping the frozen ground the rider took a gentle hold of his mistresses and swung her down from the saddle, and deposing her gently as a mother putting her child to bed on her feet.
As he did a strong gust of wind came and grabbed hold of the hood of his cape and lifted it of him.
It revealed a face hidden by a ornate silver mask forged to resemble the face of a wyrm, the rider quickly pulled the hood back on, apparently not willing to reveal his grim appearance to anyone looking.
The rest of the mounted men now dismounted and as if expecting trouble they gripped their own weapons in their gauntleteted hands.
“ See to my horse and those of my men! Keep them warm but do not stable them! We will not linger here in this wretched place for any substantial amount of time! “ she said with a foreboding tone in her voice as she spoke to the stable master and his underlings.
“ Yes my lady! They will receive noting but the best!”
“ See to that you do stable master! Or else you will find yourself occupying the dungeons of Hellheim!”
At the mention of that dreadful place of torment and agony normally reserved for traitors to the crown or deranged killers and madmen the man went pale as a corpse and swallowed hard, trying to hide his own fear. The man wasted no time in dishing out commands and instructions to those serving under him and soon the horses of the party where being handled like the most precious treasure known to man, few where those willing to risk the ire of the banshee known as lady Silja.
She walked in deep thoughts as they headed towards the halls of the fat pig that waited to receive, what he believed to be a mere visit from his patron and ally, such where the arrogance of menfolk all across the world! They saw themselves for the most part as up and above the wrath of women. But she knew that he would soon change his outlook on that matter, it was noting she hated more than incompetence. That combined with could not be described as anything else than laziness from this individual in particular made her veins run hot with anger, she normally preferred to let Haakon or someone else tend to matters as this. But once in a while she took pleasure in seeing those whom had sworn loyalty to them cover in fear of her wrath.
Although she did not intend to dish out the punishment with her own hands this time, she would non the less enjoy watching it all unfold, yes that would make the coming winter easier to live with and it would perhaps stave of the worst of her longing after Haakon whom she often found herself lusting after, even if he did not always return the favor.
As they came into the main courtyard of the citadel they where greeted by the personal household guard of the baron, dressed in ornate amour and fine silk they looked more like children playing soldiers than anything else. She knew that most of the men that served in the supposedly elite household guard where the sons of lesser nobles and wealthy merchants whom had purchased a place for their sons, and the fact the men of the guard where held in low regard by the regular troops also had been taken into account.
“Greetings lady Silja! His lordship awaits you in the grand banquet hall!” the captain of the guard said as he bowed before her, the man seemed out of place wearing the armor and weapon of his rank. He stank of sweet perfume and looked more like a dandy at the royal court than a seasoned and experience leader of men, his fellow men also had the same air of grandeur and splendor about them and gave her further proof of their worth as soldiers.
“ Greetings I have come to see the baron, I take it that word has reached you of my plans to visit yes?” she said to the captain and flashed her pearl white smile.
“ Of course my lady! We are very happy to receive such honored guests here. Follow me and I will escort you to the grand banquet hall where the baron will receive you and your companions.” the man said.
Following the perfumed captain and his men Lady Silja and her hooded retainers walked in silence, and somewhat to his credit the captain kept silent too, he too it seemed had heard of the woman that was known to posses a rather violent temperament.
On their they passed countless painting and tapestries that decorated the walls and it also seemed that the baron aspired to display his wealth in all the wrong ways. His servants clad in silk and other fine fabric vanished like mist before the sun as they saw the procession of household guards and the hooded party that accompanied them.
If this was because they feared the brutal and arrogant guards or those whom they escorted was not said, but Silja guessed it was the former. Petty nobles and spoiled brats always seemed to lack in courtly behavior was her own experience. Not that it was unexpected from oafs as these wine soaked goat lovers she silently thought and smiled at her silent jokes.
But her mind grew dark once more and her brief stint into the lands of humor where replaced with the plans she had in mind for the man she sought to disciple this day.
One of her thin almost skeletal hands found the amulet she wore around her neck, the finely carved figure of jade with a pair of red rubies for eyes always calmed her mind.
Her thoughts went to the other pieces of jewelery she wore on her person, some where in plain sight on her fingers. While others where hidden under her gown and for only a select few to see. They added their own mysterious powers to her own and made her feel like she was a goodness amongst the filthy savages of this world.

They arrived before a pair of great oaken doors decorated with fine copper and brass works of art, and there the captain told her that he would announce their arrival to the baron and his court, whom was finishing their dinner at this very moment. He also asked if she and her retainers wished to dine and if so what they wished to eat. The guards posted outside the hall pulled the great iron rings and opened the door and allowing their captain to enter but leaving the supposedly honored guests behind.
Once the man was out of sight she wasted no time, she gestured to the tallest of her retainers and the silent warrior stepped in close and bowed down to listen to the commands of his mistresses.
She said only a few words but the whole demeanor of the man seemed to change as she had spoken them, this was also noted by the household troops that guarded the door although they could not have foreseen what was to come.
The man raised one hand and pulled back his hood, as he did it became clear for all to see why he had hidden his features under the heavy cowl of his hood.
His face was hidden behind a mask forged from silver and made to resemble the wrathful face of some devil from the abyss itself, his robes fell away to reveal that the man was clad in dull black war plate with a ornate pattern of silver and what seemed to be gold running up and down it.
Around him companions also revealed their true nature and while doing so drew cold steel.
Speaking in some arcane tongue the lady whom had seemed so frail discarded her own thick cape of fur and like some wrathful avatar of death and misery pointed one thin hand towards the guards whom now barred the way into the banquet hall with their weapons pointed at her and her servants.
With long strides the warriors of the long thought dead and almost forgotten cult of the Draconian strode forwards with murder on their minds and blood lust beating in their hearth.
The guards whom where too shocked and seemingly stiff with dread where hacked to bloody lumps of broken flesh and bone by the Draconian`s whom scythed trough them and left no man standing as they cleared the way for their mistresses and patron.
While her retainers cleared a way for her, lady Silja began to repeat phrases of arcane lore and power while weaving intricate patterns with her thin pale hands. As she did the air around her seemed to grow dense with heat and a strange smell of burning sulphate began to fill the air.
Her eyes rolled backwards to reveal the white of her eyes and her body shiver while she kept on uttering words of power and control.
By now the screams of the dying and the horrid sounds of men being hacked apart had caused panic to ensue in the banquet hall, but those whom where inside found themselves trapped. Every other way out where barred by dark blue flames that flickered and danced as if possessed by a mind of their own. A particulary brave or more likely foolish man tried leaping trough the flames only to find himself caught like a fly in the web of a spider and his horrid screams of anguish filled the hall and further panicked the ones that had not dared to challenge the strange flames.
Furthermore those whom tried to dose the flames with water also found out that that did not provide any result except the hiss of boiling water and the rising of steam as the blue flames seemed to ignore the water that normally extinguished flames.
Before anyone else had the time to worry about what would happen next, or whom would be the next to die the doors that lead into the great hall that displayed the wealth of the baron and his kin swung open and a dozen or so figures in black armor strode in. many of the men whom had seen the masks they wore long long ago swore most foul and drew their own swords and daggers in a almost panicked state of mind. Men of the household guard rushed forwards to face these silver faced devils that had brought such chaos to the court of their master, but these young men and boys whom where relatively untested in open and brutal one to one combat against an armored foe where quickly found to be wanting. The blood crazed cultists whom had been restrained for so long tore into them with wild and unbridled glee, the leader of the cultists swung his gore stained blade in a deadly arc downwards and caught one man in the shoulder, such where the force behind the strike that the blade cut down into the shoulder and continued down into the chest of the man, his victim gurgled blood and crumbled like a pole axed steer while his killer yanked the blade free and backhanded a brave man that tried to strike him from behind. The blow was struck with such force that it broke the jaw of the man, and sent him reeling like a bloody rag doll tossed by a child. Not pausing the warrior lunged forwards and impaled the man with his blade. Its sharp point defeating the armor the man wore and allowed the rest of the blade to glide into the guts of the man with a sicking sound as flesh and guts where torn apart.
The carnage only lasted a few moments but for the doomed occupants of the hall it must have seemed an eternity, but as the last man fell to the bloodstained marble floor spewing blood and weeping like a child. His comrades lay in bloody piles all around.
It was at this moment in time that the last one of the party entered the hall, her long black hair hung like a shroud and her raven black gown seemed to glimmer as the many crystals and gems sown into it reflected the light from the roaring flames and flickering candles.
Her corps pale skin giving her a dreadful appearance as she seemed to glide across the fine carpets and the blood stained marble floor.
She only stopped to look down at a woman whom had fainted and where being tended to by her ashen faced husband. The pale woman seemed to enjoy this as a cold smirk found her face revealing pearl white teeth set behind thin red lips.
As she drew near the seat and the table her soon to be victim where covering under beside his mistress she spoke.
“Baron Asgeir Heidvolk you are found wanting in dedication and ability to abide the instructions handed down to you by the council of Daggerhorn! Furthermore you have proven yourself to be a hideously fat and greedy fiend whom has surrounded yourself with such opulent decadence as displayed in your hall!”
She paused to wait an reply from the man whom seemed robbed of all courage and will to stand up, for all he was supposed to represent. Hearing no reply she picked up a goblet of wine from a nearby table and sniffed before taking a small sip of the expensive red wine.
“Anyone whom has been part of this foolishness and wishes to make amends for their wrongs, can do so by helping to restore order once this matter is concluded!”
Finishing her wine in one gulp she tossed the goblet to the floor and gazed at the trembling shape of the good baron.
“ By the authority given to me by lord Haakon of Daggerhorn and his council of nobles I sentence you to death!” she said and turned towards her retinue whom silently stalked forwards and tossing the great oak table aside with apparent ease. They seized the quivering lump of lard and his mistresses with their gauntleteted hands and held them so hard that both man and woman screamed in pain and fear. The eyes of the young woman where wide with terror and fear and she cried hysterically as the cultist whom held her dragged her across the floor but her lamentations where ignored by the masked warrior, her abusive lover fared no better as he was beaten and kicked by the pair that dragged him towards his soon to be executioner whom watched him with something akin to impatience.
His fat bulk quivered when one of the Draconian`s kicked him in the stomach, causing him to vomit and thus further adding to his humiliation at the hands of these devils. He was dumped in front of the skeletal woman whom had ordered his guards butchered like pigs and his banquet hall defiled.
“Please my lady, please I beg you! Name your price and I will pay it, just spare me!” he mewled.
“You dare speak to me you after you failed Lord Haakon and forced me set foot in this den of opulence and laziness! You whom swore to do his every command and to aid his and our cause in any way!” Lady Silja snarled to him while nodding to one of her retainers whom drew a dagger and bent down and like a barber shaving a man cut the ear of the disgraced baron.
That drew a shriek from the man that tried to stop the blood with one fat fingered hand, while the other seemed to be shaking uncontrollably as he attempted to draw a handkerchief of fine silk from his pocket.
Lady Silja considered summoning the flames once more, and just roasting the man where he lay quivering. But she decided against it, she had spent too much energy on making sure that no way of escape had been open to do so now. Turning to her favored servant she said in a sweet tone in the trade tongue so her victim knew what was coming.
“My dear, hand me the flask of lamp oil will you? And fetch me that candle over there will you?”

Got a real Games of Thrones vibe from that - good stuff.

I liked the fact the household guard were there on political, rather than martial, merit.

Thanks for the update!

Thanks! And well I suppose it got some tones of GoT in it, and yes. I wanted to show in some cases politics and fsvor doing can lead to less than ideal positions being handed out

As the two riders and the great hound passed the gates that lay facing west, the winter began to arrive in force. The steel grey sky began to dump massive snow crystals down upon the world below while the wind once more picked up its lonely and morose song of lonesome as its cold embrace swept across the lands.
Riding in good speed the pair of riders mounted on their shaggy step horses, and with their saddle bags filled with provisions for the road. Beside the pair the great hound Dread ran, his long pink tongue hanging from his mouth while he kept pace with the horses and their riders.
Ashild allowed herself to look back at the city they just had departed and felt a deep feeling of relief that they had departed the city that seemed to be overrun with with less than kind individuals.
But that was not all, since the moment she had set foot within the towering walls of the city she had felt a dark and twisted aura seeping the very cobblestones of the streets she had walked and the inn she had rested in. having told herself that it was only her road weary mind that played tricks on her. Deep down in her guts she felt something tug at her mind from the shadows, and experience had shown that there where often more to this world than what ones eyes could reveal.
Casting of these nagging feelings of doubt for the moment she set her mind to the road that awaited her and Brage, her eyes blazing like flames made from the ice that covered the realm of father winter in his icy domain of Muspelheim in the realm of the gods.
“ It feels good to be free of that cursed city, I hate being trapped behind walls and amongst so many people” she said as she steered her horse around a deep puddle of partial frozen mud.
“ Aye I agree but I don’t mind people, I just mind the sort of folks that wants to part my head from my shoulders and in these last few days after I meet you it seems all manner of devils are crawling out of the woodwork’s. I was half expecting the soldiers at the city gates to try and stop us as we departed the city.”
“ Yes that would not have been unexpected to be honest but I believe that those seeking to stop our journey will try again before we reach our goal.”
Pausing to drink from his water skin to help relive the start of a headache Brage looked around them, the fields where barren and empty and the trees of the woods would soon shed the last of their leafs, the change from autumn to winter made him somewhat melancholic and reflective.
Looking to Dread he noticed that the dog seemed somewhat nervous as it paced around with its ears layed flat and its tail hanging limp. That was definitively not a good sign but he decided that it was probably due to the icy wind and the onset of winter, beasts seldom enjoyed snow and the icy cold that always followed, but in case it was not the case it would not harm to keep one eye open just in case there was trouble lurking somewhere ahead of them. Kicking his horse to get the shaggy beast moving he set after Ashild feeling the cold seep into his bones, and a distinct feeling of unease settling in alongside the cold.

As the companions began to make good speed there where those whom sat in silence and darkness and brooded over the troubles to come.
The queen stood silently on the balcony that overlooked the city that sprawled out below, the pennants flying from the spires and towers fluttered in the strong wind that had come howling down from the north like the wrath of some angry god. Pulling the heavy fur cloak around herself to stave of the biting cold the aging monarch let out a deep sigh and looked down at her own hands. Rings of immense value decorated her fingers and the fine jewelery she wore around her neck could have bought anyone a sizable cut of land, but to her they where just pieces of stone and metal and noting that she cared for. For what was gold and silver worth when she knew that her lands risked being consumed by the greed of man once more. These wretched things only seemed to fuel the greed of merchants and petty nobles and did anything to help the common man and woman get by on a daily basis. But the stoic monarch brushed these dark thoughts aside and rallied herself, turning on her heels she walked back into her personal chambers and called out to her maidens in a steely tone while her whole body seemed to radiate irritation and something akin to restlessness.
“ Look lively ladies! And send for my armor, I feel like beating someone senseless and by the gods I will perhaps somehow beat some sense into one or two cocky nobles while I am at it!” she said in a feisty tone witch made her maidens hurry their pace all the more. For while the queen was perhaps no longer young she still possessed a fierce temper and her verbal lashings could make paint peel of walls if someone did not do what she demanded of them.
As one of her maidens ran like if the hounds of the abyss where after her to fetch the royal armorer the rest of them wasted no time in rousing the other servants.
But the queen whom had always detested having to wait for her attendants to do everything for her began to shed the cloths she had to wear at court.
Soon she was standing in noting but a coarse and thick woolen undershirt and a pair of equally rough looking woolen pants as she waited for her armor.
Holding in one hand the scabbard of her personal sword she drew the blade in one smooth move and held it level in front of her face.
The blade forged from singing steel was close to four feet long and gleamed eagerly as she took one practice swing with it. Its grip and cross guard where made from fine bronze and iron and set with neatly cut jade and ice blue sapphires while the pommel where made of bronze inlaid with threads of silver and gold.
Its blade had runes carved into it along the middle of it while the rest of it where left plain yet regal in its appearance. This was the only thing beside her armor and shield that she felt truly connected to as far as material goods where concerned. Speaking to no one in particular she said out aloud
“ Our days may be growing fewer and fewer old friend! But by the gods what good days we have had! And anyone wanting a fight will be soaked in their own blood before we ever yield!”.
Sheathing her blade she realized her grim mood was gone and had been replaced with a deep sense of ease. She had just enough time to sip some water before her personal armorer entered her chamber followed by his apprentices and the captain of the palace guard. The man who was a master armor smith smiled and greeted her with a cheerful tone to his deep voice.
“ Ah my fair lady! Good to see you on this fine day. Now I take it you intend to bash someones head in on the training field? This wont take long as I can see that you have not gained anything in the way of weight so the suit wont need much adjusting.”
with those words the man and his two apprentices began to dress their queen in her suit of war plate forged by the man himself, he had learned his trade in the city states of Thessalonia a life time ago.
It was made with steel colored a deep shade of jade green and with fine patterns of gold and brass running across the breast plate, the pattern was that witch also decorated the royal standard in times of war, the snarling dragon head with its maw wide open and ready to meet any foe whom dared stand before the queen. The helmet was forged to resemble the head of a wolf, the face of the wearer was protected by finely forged metal and studded with fine patterns carved into the mask.
With the main parts of the armor now protecting her body she looked anything than the warm and gentle queen that normally ruled over her lands, the last parts that remained where the armored gauntlets and the armored sabaton that protected her feet.
The process of dressing the queen in her suit of armor had taken the better part of half an hour and now the smith took a step back and looked over his monarch and smiled, pleased with himself.
“Now then lass, you look fit to hold of a whole army on your own, do let me know if any parts needs adjusting or more fittings since its been some time since you last wore the whole suit. “

“My thanks master smith, I am sure they will still fit just nicely! I will send for you when I am done for the day. Now excuse me, I need to vent some frustration on the sparring fields.” the queen replied in a almost icy tone as she gripped her shield in one gauntleteted hand and set a course for the sparring fields.
As she did so the cohort of palace guards that had remained with her since the savage and bloody attack on her chamberlain. Walking behind her her captain of the guard said in a low tone to his monarch.
“Whom do you intend to spar against? Shall I send for one of the Druzina? Or dose your majesty have someone else pegged for that task?”
“ Send for anyone whom consider themselves a skilled fighter, but I would not mind if you also invited a few of those whom consider themselves a friend of Baron Daggerhorn. ”
“ I see..... do you intend to just beat him senseless or do you have something a bit more bloody in mind?”
“Wait and see captain, wait and see” the queen said in a sinister tone as she smiled to a group of court ladies they walked pass on their way to the training grounds.
To this the giant of a man did not reply, he merely grunted something undefinable and adjusted his belt with one massive hand and gripping his trusty axe in his other hand.

Exciting the palace the procession of guards and the odd curious on locker found themselves in a great open space, where several sparring circles had been laid out with their confines marked by blood red paint against the ivory white marble. This was the place where the elite of the royal Kelsian army normally sparred and honed their skills for hours on end, but now the place had been given over to various nobles and the battle hungry monarch whom now seemed more like a steel clad predator than a noble and fair queen.
A few of those famed warriors stood silently and watched the coming circus and exchanged a few whispered words before bowing their heads and banging their fists to their chests in a show of respect for their monarch.
The men of Vanaheim formed a loose circle around the chosen field alongside the nobles and other court attendants that had come to see the queen train. Even if she had not extended a formal invitation most understood what the real meaning of this event was.
Their eyes where draw from the queen and her retinue of squires and attendants to the group of challengers that had heeded her challenge and seeked to win fame and perhaps the admiration of their ruler in the process.
Stepping into the red painted circle she grinned behind her helmet and drew her sword and hefted her shield. Not waiting for the marshal of the field to adders the crowd that had gathered she spoke.
“Who is first then! Anyone feeling brave enough? Or have you all left your balls at home boys and girls!” she said, her voice sounding hollow and cold from behind the full faced helmet she wore.
The first to answer her challenge was a young man, clad in what seemed to be a suit of fine and costly suit of war plate, he held in his gauntleteted hands a evil looking spiked mace and a shield decorated with his family coat of arms.
“ I do your majesty!”
“And what is your name pup? I assume you where given one at the day of your birth or shall I have my scribes find you one?” the queen teased and studied her would be opponent.
“I am Mortimer of the noble house Desmond! And yes, my parents did baptize me and thus gained the favor of the gods! And I challenge you on this day! “
He was a man barely into his twenties with dark hair, and with thin blood red lips and a somewhat dishonest look to his eyes. The young man wore his suit of war plate with something akin to arrogance and a heightened belief in his own set of skills as a fighter. Clearly he was used to being obeyed and most likely feared. But he lacked the aura of a seasoned fighter and to the eyes of the queen that reeked of cowardice.
Stepping forwards he raised his spiked weapon high to the sky, and bowed before the queen before taking up a fighting stance, with his shield ready and his eyes looking at his opponent.
She did not return the salute but merely grinned to herself, and leveled her sword and pointed to him and spoke.
“Come then pup, I have others waiting and you look much more adapt at chasing skirts than swinging that mace of yours” she teased and readied herself.
With those words the duel began with the nobleman almost leaping at his foe like a wolf pouncing on a deer, but if he had thought the queen was all tongue and no bite he grossly underestimated his own skills. She parried his first swipe and dropped low to avoid the second and returned the favor with a flurry of blows that pressed him back and made him work hard to maintain his stance and momentum.
Sparks flew as they went at each other again, both now breathing hard while their suits of war plate gleamed in the light of the day. Suddenly the queen swore and jerked back as a wide blow from her opponent almost struck her in the side, her shield and the reflexes honed over decades saving her from a painful blow.
Driven on by this nearly fight ending blow the young man came on hard once more, his weapon humming trough the air and his breathing growing more labored as he sought to press home his victory.
The spectators gasped and commented on how the queen seemed to only give ground to this upstart, but there where those whom did not join in on the apparent shock of the other court members.
Those whom had seen their monarch on the field of battle knew she was a shrewd as a drake and as bloodthirsty as a Draug when her blood was up.
As Mortimer was about to strike once more the queen made her carefully planned strike, her sword gleamed in the sun and as the sharp blade fell it seemed to sing. A sickening sound of flesh and bone filled the air, and the wail of the stricken Mortimer joined the sounds of the shock of the crowd.
For on the ground lay his hand, severed at the wrist where his gauntlet had failed to guard his limb from the sharp blade wielded by the monarch whom now viewed him with noting short of disgust.
He screamed like a stung pig and tried to crawl back, while trying to get back to his feet. But before he could do so Charsi kicked him hard in the ribs and knocked the air out of him.
“Lay still you mongrel! You sought to accelerate your own rise to power by striking down your own queen! And are you so daft that you thought I did not notice you trying to strike a killing blow mere moments ago! Now you know the price for dealing with those whom seek to overthrow the throne you dog:!” having said her last words to the now weeping man that where begging for mercy, despite his supposedly attempt at her life the queen.
Turning to her palace guard she spoke in a unsettling calm and collect tone
“Take this man to the healers and see to that his whining ceases! Then send him on a ship to the south! He is banished from my realm until the day I find it fit to forgive his crimes! The lands of his estate are to be given over to his serfs and his wealth will be used to aid those in need of shelter and protection from the hardship of life”

Turning to the shocked crowd that had witnessed this savage act of court disincline she said in a low and threatening tone.
“Let this man be a warning to you all ! ANYONE found to be peddling in such ideas as this man was will be treated as a enemy of the crown! And their fates will be far worse than begin banished form my realms!” the she wolf almost snarled as she wiped the blood of her blade and looking at the thinning group of would be challengers.
“Is there anyone else wishing to fight or shall we call it for today gentlemen?” she said and gazed at the assortment of wealthy merchant sons and minor nobles.
When none seemed to rise to take the bait she let out a sigh of disappointment and turned to her captain.
“ It seems my dear that instead of brave men, there are only scared sheep here now. How little it takes to drain the courage of some men these days.”

Wow - Charsi's turning into a badass in her old age! Her grasp of realpolitik's as good as her grasp on her sword. Wasn't expecting that, Trondheim!

Glad you liked and pardon the somewhat lengthy wait for the update. Now I wanted to make her seem frail in the previous chapters and have her lash out in this manner come this chapter. And it seemed it worked, and thanks for reading and commenting as always

While the queen dispensed justice and made an example of the would be ambitious noble son, someone else where kneeling in worship of their dark gods.
In the gloom of the small hearth of the temple built to serve as a place of worship for the few Stygian enclave that dwelled in the great city, the air was thick with the sweet smelling stink of burning lotus and myrrh and the smoke seemed to mix with the murmure of the two kneeling figures that lay with their foreheads touching the black tiles of the floor.
Before them stood the gruesome idol of the serpent god whom those from the south worhsiped and payed offerings to.
One of the men where clearly a Stygian, his long dreadlocks lay like a cowl across his shoulders and back, while his lips formed the ptayer words. The other man however was someone whom most people would have been shocked to find in this place of sanctom and holliness.
For this was Lord Simon Askhaug and now he bent his knees to a god most of his fellow Kelsmen viewed with deep suspicion and distrust. But for him it made perfect sense to bet on multiple horses and besides it also made sense for a man like him to ensure that one understood how the minds of other nations, and beliefs worked.
And when it came to the secretive and often insidious men and women of Stygia it was more or less a required thing to do, seeing how they often downright despised and persecuted other religions. But these few souls whom dwelled here in the capitol of the kingdom he called home, and loved with every fiber of his body it was more of common respect than anything else.
When his companion had finished his litany spoken in Stygian and rose to his feet he did the same.
As they turned their back to the baleful image of the snake god and began to walk he seized the chance to speak freely.
“ So then now that we have set aflame a small fortune I assume that you can tell me what you have learned from your spies and confidants regarding the rabid dog that threatens the lands?”
The Stygian gave him a look that told him that his servant had some measure of success in his task.
“ The shadows have told me many things while I meditated and awaited their return my lordship, they spoke of the death of a fat and imbecilic man at the hands of the pale woman whom shares her
bed with a man whom seeks to depose the queen. It seems the stuffed one failed to do as he was told. His end was apparently quite fiery and left those whom witnessed it quite frightened, Lady Silja also seems to ride in the company of the disciplines of a cult long thought dead and buried.”
When the man had finished speaking he raised the hood of his cloak to ward of the cold wind that howled outside the temple, and to shield himself from the curious eyes of the commoners of the land.
His master shifted his weight from one foot to the other and replied while silently cursing his wounds, that still stung and caused him grief and much pain.
“ Now hold on, you mean to tell me that the mad wench burnt someone alive! Well did those shadows of yours tell whom got turned into a human candle?”
The Stygian gave his master a somewhat unsettling smile and nodded before answering
“ Yes actually they did, although I fear you may not be terribly shocked by the nature of my answer. The human candle in question was no other than Baron Asgeir Heidvolk! Several members of his court also seem to have suffered a rather unpleasant end too at the hands of that vile woman. Also it seems that his entire household guard where killed to the last man by a score of masked fanatics escorting the good lady Silja. “
As soon as his servant had finished speaking a smile spread across the face of the aging chamberlain, and it was clear that the idea of the man he had long sought to remove from his seat of power sat well with him. Even if his demise had come at the hands of a deranged wench and her blood crazed minions.
“ Hmm I see well I suppose there where more parties than the queen and I whom had their fill of the incompetence of that man and his closest court members, do we know whom has taken his seat?”
“ Someone much more competent and able to keep himself or herself alive and thus useful to their masters I would assume. But the court in question are in a state of turmoil now and will be fore some time as the lesser nobles and merchants sort out old grudges and what not. “
“ Agreed my friend, see to that your shadows keep their ears to the ground and tell me if anything newsworthy should come along!.”
They walked along the wide street that lead from the silent and sombre temple district to the royal palace, the crowds parted for them like sheep scattering before wolves. No doubt due to the cohort of dismounted Druzina that had been assigned to the grey haired chamberlain to keep any further attempts at his life from happening.
The men from the steppes stood out with their scale armor full faced helmets with plumes of horsehair and weapons gleaming in the light of the day, each man gripping his weapons as if he expected brigands or crazed fanatics to leap out of the crowd and hurl themselves at the men of the east.
But none of the commoners, merchants and craftsmen would have been so foolish, for provoking the barely civilized men of the endless steppes where not wise. Even if they had spent years serving the queen and the kingdom their ways of violence and poorly hidden distrust of anyone not of their tribe had shown itself to be long lived. But none did question the loyalty of these men with almond shaped eyes and a faint yellow tint to their skin and whom seemed to be one with their fierce horses on witch they brought fear and death to the foes of the queen.
“Tell me friend what do you think the queen will end up doing with that nasty piece of work lord Haakon? Exile him? Put him on trial or simply swat him like a fly with the full might of the royal armies?” the chamberlain asked his hooded companion as they climbed the last set of wide marble stairs that lead onto the courtyard of the palace.
“ Well had you asked me a month ago I would have have said that she would have given the craven dog a fair trial and a chance to redeem himself, but now. I am not so sure, as she seems to have grown somewhat more irate these last few weeks. So I will say that he will either find himself banished and his lands divided up amongst the common folk or he will wake to find his castle surrounded by the armies of Kels. And if that happens the end will be swift and bloody, he may have a considerable force at hand. I doubt his men will be willing to risk being marked as traitors and enemies of the throne, but I would not hedge all my silver on it. The lord of Daggerhorn has built a well drilled and well supplied force that could prove hard to beat even if they would be outnumbered.”
“ I suppose we will only see in due time then Seon” the chamberlain said as the pair passed groups of court members and gentry awaiting to see the queen in her now silent hall.
Pausing outside the great doors of the throne room they awaited to be allowed in by the grim faced guards that seemed to be unable to smile these days.
“ Hail your lordship! Glad to see you up and about again, the queen awaits you but let me warn you. She is a bit temperamental today so thread softly” said the leader of the guards as he pushed the great doors open and allowing the pair to enter the great hall decorated with the banners of old, and priceless works of art alongside paintings of the kings and queens of old.
As they came closer they realized the truth of the warning spoken by the captain at the door, the sharp and icy voice of the queen filled the air and they could see the worried looks on the faces of the rest of the gathered ministers and various officials.
It was clear that the queen despite having mutilated one man and banished the wrenched soul to exile her blood still ran hot, Taking a knee they both bowed low to show their respect.
Taking her attention away from scolding her ministers the monarch gazed at her chamberlain, and it became clear that the warning offered by the captain was very real. A cold simmering fury seemed to burn in her eyes and her face was one of barely contained anger as she had listened to the various ministers and lords. But she reined herself in and seemed to regain some manner of stoic calm.
“ Greetings lord Simon, I am pleased to see that you had the time to join us today. I know your workload is great and that you probably have other matters to attend to but I believe that what I will tell you all in a few heartbeats will make it all worth it. “ the queen said and indicated that all except the gathered lords and ministers should depart the room at once, all but the chosen few of her household guard left the great throne room and thus leaving only the persons of power behind.

Charsi let out a deep sigh of something akin to exhaustion and poured herself a cup of spiced wine and cleared her throat before addressing the somewhat curious gathering.
“As you all know we stand before a time that will prove challenging and filled with dangers for our fair lands. Once more unrest plagues Kels and once more it is one of our own that seeks to challenge the throne. But this time it is one of our own whom seeks to cast it all away and for once and all secure his claim to the role as ruler of the lands and its inhabitants. But that is not was poses the greatest threat. For that comes from the depraved shadow of a once fair maid scarred by the cruel touch of fate and the evil of men, for she is the leader and defacto ruler of the cult whom served the vile serpent that held the throne before I reclaimed it!”

As she spoke these words loaded with darkness and a foreboding of events to come silence fell across the gathered lords and men of power. None seemed willing to take the word as silence filled the throne room and the space between the gathered figures of power.
Finally it was the pale and silent figure of the lord marshal of the Temple of silence that spoke, his cold voice spreading like the wings of a crow gliding across a corps strewn field.
“ My queen I take it that you have had some measure of advanced warning, beyond what spies and loyal men have told you? But I find your words regarding the cult most alarming. If that dire warning is correct it is my belief that we will need to invest heavily in rooting the heretical curs out! And extinguish them once and for all! The warriors of my order will gladly aid your forces my queen.” he said with a hint of zeal burning in his one good eye while his mailed fist gripped the hilt of his long sword.

Politics makes for strange bedfellows, as they say ...

I like the levels of intrigue you've got going on and the fact there are no real out and out good guys ... even the heroes are not unblemished by the company they keep ...

Fist of all, sorry to all my readers for not updating this. Life has been hectic as of the last months but now it seems all is well. Hope you enjoy, C&C always welcomed

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Ashild shifted in her saddle and looked out across the barren fields they where riding alongside on the road that lead them deeper into the heartlands of Kels, and towards their meeting with destiny.
A cold wind that had accompanied them for the last few days swept along the tilled fields and picked up dust and the leaves of the season passed.
As if to add to the general gloominess snow fell from the sky, huge snow crystals slowly gliding down towards the world below, heralding the coming of winter and the season of ice and howling gales from the far north.
In the last few days the pair had passed a growing number of hamlets and small farming communities, and it was clear that these lands where tamed and its people of a softer breed than those whom lived on the untamed frontier.
They had also seen more armed troops and signs of the royal power in these parts, and that made Ashild feel somewhat uneasy, one could never be too careful when dealing with men that served under the banner of a throne. No matter how fair their ruler where. But none had barred their way or looked to harass them so she allowed herself to relax somewhat and dull her savage mind. But her hand never strayed far from her axe non the less.

To her side Brage reflected the thoughts of his companion as they rode in silence, with their capes draped around them to ward of the bite of the north wind and to keep the dust out of their faces.
It was almost seven months since he had set foot in these parts of Kels, and then it had been during one of the warmer months and he had made his way towards the wild lands under the identity of a explorer returning to those savage and untamed lands with dreams of finding his fortunes.
Now however he almost expected an attempt at his life at every turn, after the incident outside the tavern in Halsa, where Ashild had torn apart a band of sell swords whom clearly had been payed handsomely to either kill them or place them in irons.
He felt for the scroll he carried with him and the knowledge he possessed, but he still dared to hope for a relatively safe journey to the capitol and to the court of the monarch and his paymaster whom awaited his return.
The hard faced man looked down to see the massive hound named Dread look up at him with its unsettling gaze that seemed to pierce his very soul each time he locked eyes with his travel companion.
“Gods knows I hate this damned wind! One should think it could find someone else to harass and fill with dust and muck!” the half troll said and spat while she reached for her almost empty water skin that hung from her saddle.
“Aye no argument there my dear, hopefully it will get better as the snow covers the lands. I on the other hand could marry a cow for a drink of spice wine now and a bite of well cooked beef stew.” said Brage whom was equally filled to the rafters with loathing for the damned wind.

Before the two could further moan and groan about the weather, saddle soreness and their wish for something else than water to drink, they where interrupted by the angry growl coming from Dread, who had stopped dead in his tracks.
The hound snarled and barred his yellow teeth while his ears lay backwards, there was noting civilized about that one Brage said to himself silently as he looked at both the warrior woman and the hound that was displaying his displeasure with something.
“Whats the matter boy? If its the weather you are snarling at cease it! We will all sleep underneath a roof come nightfall!
“I doubt the hound would waste his breath on the weather, his kind cares not if it rains or snow. His kin has roamed the world long before the rise of man” the half troll said as she kicked her horse into action once more and leaving him in her wake until he too set the heels to his mount.
Brage allowed Ashild to remain ahead of him, as he needed time to think and felt the need for some privacy with his thoughts. At his side Dread seemed to glide across the frozen ground effortlessly with his pink tongue hanging out of his maw, and his keen eyes following the horse and rider up ahead.
“See anything? Gods be damned if there some band of unwashed devils lurking around here somewhere! I do not wish to deal with highway men now.” he said and reached almost instinctively for his own weapon. A long time spent wandering along the roads and lonely pathways of the world had ingrained a sense of caution and a equally healthy doze of distrust towards his fellow men and women.
“No I don’t see anything nor do I smell anything on the winds either, I suspect the hound just caught a scent of a flea ridden wolf or something along those lines” Ashild said and looked down at the hound in question, whom stood there with its massive head tilted to one side as it regarded its pack mates.
The facial expression of the hound almost seemed to say that he was deeply insulted by their lack of interest in his growls of dismay.
“Don’t give me that look you heap of fur” said Brage in a somewhat joking tone to the hound and tossed him a piece of dried beef. The massive hound sniffed at the meat before greedily gripping it and devouring it like a starved man getting his hands on a loaf of bread.
The party resumed their trek towards the capitol of Kels in their road weary state and most likely each one of them offered a silent prayer to whatever they prayed to that a inn would appear before their eyes the next time they had climbed a hill, or passed trough one of the small farming community that lay along the road they where following.
Time passed slowly as they rode on, the wind had increased in strength and brought with her more snow that drifted slowly towards the ground far bellow the iron grey skies that hung low over their heads. As they crossed a small stream that lay beside a time worn mill house with a large water wheel, whom for now stood still a smell of smoke and barn yard could be noticed on the cold wind that swept down along the road that lead up towards a large stone fence that seemed well maintained and looked after.
“This looks promising enough, not many of these hamlets can afford to have a water mill built, nor do most farmers build such large fences. I suspect we are about to reach a substantial town of some sort.” Brage said and pulled his cloak thither about him, the chill of the wind bit deep into his bones and he felt deeply uneasy. He never liked winter, and he definitively hated these cold weeks before the damned snow settled down and signaled the winter season.
Damned if he would spend a moment longer in this cold any longer than need be, but he doubted his female companion disliked the cold.
Her hair hung like a great mane of hair and her cheeks where tinted with a hint of pink, her hands that he knew where capable of breaking bone and beating the living daylights of any man or beast for that matter. But it was her eyes that always puzzled him, they where a hint of yellow and orange. And very much in contrast to the rest of her imposing figure, folk of the north had very rarely eyes like that.

“Well don’t worry my dear road weary ranger of distant mountains and forgotten realms, I am sure we can find a tavern wench to warm you, and a large helping of spiced ale and a large chunk of roasted meat when we reach the inn that must be near.”
“ Bah women! I don’t feel the need to feel the hands of a timid farm girl on me, but Id give a finger for spiced wine from Thessalonia and a leg of lamb.” Brage muttered and followed a pair of magpies with his eyes as they flew overhead.
“ Hmm aren’t you the grumpy one” Ashild teased him with a amused grin across her face.
“Never knew I traveled with a old and worn out man in the twilight of his years”
Brage did not rise to take the bait but instead merely snorted and fixed his eyes on the road ahead.
His companion still chuckled to herself as they reached the stone fence, and caught sight of the provincial capitol.
“Well that is a welcomed sight for weary eyes and tired limbs” Brage said at her side while looking about for the hound whom where ambling up behind them and gave them both a dour look.
“Told you we where not far from shelter hound. Looks like we will have to reschedule that miserable night under a pine tree with only the company of the north wind.”
“ But we need to take some caution though, the eyes and ears of less than honest men are always to be found where any sizable number of simpletons are to be found. I don’t want do deal with any club wielding thugs right now. Any evildoers will have to wait until morning.” he said and looked at his companion.
“ No arguments there, I feel the need to sit on something else than the cold ground or a horse back as of now. I don’t think you hound will have anything against to sleep under a roof either, judging by how sour he looks at us at every chance.” Ashild joined in.
They rode into town along the same road they had followed since crossing the mill stream, passing houses that looked like they had been since the day the first king of Kels took the throne, moss grew on the stone and timber walls and the great logs where colored by smoke and the passing of the seasons since the day they where built by now long dead towns folk.
Riding past the towns folk whom where busy with herding herds of sheep, trading with their fellow men and generally going about their daily toll Ashild seemed to tense, and her face came to wear a hint of worry about it, maybe it was just the sense of being surrounded by houses and the crowds of people milling about the partially muddy road that made her savage self feel trapped. Or perhaps there was something else, hidden from the senses of more civilized folks that had her somewhat unnerved. Or maybe she just had the habit of expecting the worst from people, no matter where in the world she found herself.
“ Relax woman, no one suspects us to be whom we are. In their eyes we are noting but road weary and in dire need of warm water and strong soap” Brage said as if to calm his companion.
Looking to his side to keep track of Dread whom parted the crowds of humans before him like a wolf amongst sheep he whistled sharply to summon the dog to his side and keep the hound from making a scene. With great leaping steps the dog hurried up to match the pace of the horse of its master whom rewarded him with praise and the promise of food.
As the trio past two shepherds whom where busy discussing the price of their animals with a third man, whom by his looks and cloths where a livestock trader, they received something akin to a knowing look. The two men, clad in rough home spun cloths clearly knew a thing or two about hounds.
The two men nodded and gave Brage a thumbs up, as if finding the hound they where studying worthy of their praise before returning to the haggling at hand with the stocky livestock trader whom looked annoyed at being left to wait for the two men to stop gawking at such a unsavory beast.
“ I never did ask did I about what sort of breed Dread is did I?” Ashild said after they had passed the two shepherds.
“ No you never did, not did I tell you. To be perfectly honest I am not quite sure myself, but I suspect there is more than just dog blood in his veins, but I dare stake a claim that he belongs to one of the breeds raised by the Picts and the other wild tribes of the hinterlands. That at least would explain why he is so fearless, and his....appetite for man flesh at times. I suspect he has torn apart more than one woad painted devil over the years. “
To this somewhat blunt and grim statement she offered no real reply but nodded in agreement and looked at the great hound with something akin to admiration in her eyes.
Not pursuing the subject of the third member of their party they kept the silence as they caught sight of a weather worn and somewhat sorry looking sign that showed that there where food, drink and a warm bed to be found. Steering their tired horses into courtyard of the inn that where to their surprise covered by cobblestones and well kept.
Seeing that no stable boy came to take the horses or at least offer to Brage took the reins of their horses and lead the animals towards the barn himself.
“Go inside and find a table, it wont take long to stable them and such if there is anyone to be found inside the stable”
“ I will save a chair and a flagon of beer for you then, if I don’t decide to drink it all myself” she said and grinned, displaying her sharp pearly white teeth.
“Wonderful” the worn out man muttered as he pushed the stable doors open and pulled the horses after him into the gloom of the stable.
Upon entering the stable he was struck by the sharp smell of horse manure and the tingling sensation brought on by the hay dust that hung in the air. Looking about for the stable boy or any other soul for that matter he found none and cursed the lazy hide whom probably lay snoring somewhere while he had to tend to the horses rather than drinking a flagon of beer.
As he worked he became aware that someone where studying him or spying him from above, pretending not to notice this he remained calm.

Turing to leave the stable he walked towards the stable doors and whistled a low tone, as a man might do if he where content with his work and ready to sink down on a comfortable chair. But instead of just whistling for his own enjoyment he called Dread to him.
Speaking in a very hushed tone he said to the hound “ Find the rat that is hiding in here, but do NOT eat him or her! Understand” he said and looked his hound in the eyes as to enforce his command.
The hound returned the favor and set of into the barn, his great pink tongue hanging from his maw and his great paws helping the hound to climb over crates and sacks of grain.
A few silent moments passed then a terrified scream came from the loft above, and the sounds of someone in a hurry filled the air.
The scrawny figure clad in rags came racing towards the door, eyes wide with fear and breathing heavily, as the figure was about to sprint through the open doors and away from the great hound that where at his or hers heels, the poor soul found itself locked in a iron hard grip and pulled to the side.
“Now then! Is it not the spy from above! “ said Brage whom found himself looking at a thin and sorry looking boy that could not be more than fourteen or fifteen winters old.
A low whimper escaped from the lips of the obvious terrified boy, whom probably expected a sound beating at best. Seeing this Brage let go of the boy and took a step back, by now Dread had joined him and the sight of the great drooling hound made the boy freeze as if turned to ice.
“Don’t worry lad, my hound would not ruffle a hair on you unless you gave him reason to do so, sorry about that really. I am just not used to being spied upon by people whom are just curious. “
The boy however did not seem sure of the truth of his words and remained silent as a stone, only his wide eyes and rapid breathing revealing how afraid the boy was.
“You don’t have anything to fear from me or the hound, look after the two horses I set in the stable and IL see to that you get a warm meal and coin for it. If there is any problems come and find me in the common room!” he said and fished out a coin from his belt and handed it to the lad as a token of good intent and amends.

With those words Brage left the mute boy behind and headed to the main building on the court yard, his mind where filled with images of drink and food as he pulled the brass decorated oak door open and stepped into the gloom of the common room of the inn.

It's going to end in a huge fight, isn't it? There'll be a window, with someone thrown through it.

A nice slow burn of an episode, letting the characters breathe. Good to have you back, Trondheim!

Someone will definitly get punched yes and probably get axed a question.

Thanks good to be back