Becky Hill /Marcon Brand
__________________________
Dwanhaven/ Aurelia west 7pm today / yesterday
Marcon:
Yesterday, 7pm
With a long sigh he tossed the glass of brandy into the flames. His hazel eyes stared at the fires enjoyment of the drink rising higher in the hearth. Sitting shirtless in his home he looked around at the spoils of his life with disdain. Had he known just how utterly tedious the retirement life was going to be he might have let his last challenger stab him through the chest. The lie to himself caused the warrior to smirk a little. Like that pompous fool had any hope, constantly leading the thrusts with his right foot made it so very predictable. Shifting to the left and dropping his swords edge to the back of the mans neck made it almost too easy. Yet now the ancient warrior was left to rust in his home. Even building it was a feat he relished for the time it took and the many skills h had to learn. It was refreshing to feel his muscles become sore for the effort. But now after ten years the place he cherished felt more like a luxurious coffin.
He stood and grabbing the bucket poured water over the flames. Tomorrow it had to change, something had to be there just out of reach to give his life purpose again. The morning came without the sun and still his body responded as it had regardless. Dressing in his civilian attire he gathered some things a short sword and coin purse before stepping outside. The old gal was waiting in the lean to, trotting up to her master with the hope of food. He chuckled and patted her grey nose.
"Not this time gal, we need to get out of here." Recalling a few weeks back while getting supplies for the local town he had heard others speaking of some new doomed place called Dawnhaven. Supposedly some prince or another made the bright idea to make a new settlement dangerously close to the blight lands. Marcon did his signature smirk. He thought of a village hopelessly under fortified, so close to blood thirsty demons, and filled with fools with good intentions, it sounded like the perfect place for him to meet his end! Maybe even with a sword in hand if he was lucky. Gathering his wares into the rickety cart before hitching it to his best gal Rose.
She was getting up in years but a greater demon couldnt budge her from her rider. Battle tested and twice as fierce the grey horse with white hair was a true testament of a loyal friend of her master. He patted her neck before making sure everything was ready. With a little luck it would be the better part of a full days travel before reaching the doomed village, the old swordsman could barely wait! A light flick of the reigns gave the signal for Rose to start the journey. He rode alone hoping to get in some practice before he had to play the role of an old man again. Marcon got his wish by the end of the first day.
Making camp by a stream and starting a 'come and get me' fire he kept his sword strapped to his back hiding it beneath his brown leather poncho. Taking out some dried beef as the water boiled to rid its impurities. The old mans ears still picked up the hoof beats of riders on the trail to his back, he smirked.
"Hey old timer. got room for four more? We're hungry but already ate all of our food. Tell ya what, you give us all you got and you can walk to the next town? Sounds like a good deal right?" The leader chuckled as the others laughed at the hunched over figure by the fire.
"You would harm an old man just minding his business on the trail between towns, how unfortunate." He smirked hiding his face with his back. Listening to the men dismount from their horses. Rose could use the company he thought and they sounded like younger animals.
"Nah we are just going to kick you until you agree to our request, unless you want to fight us? Oh you dont have a blade do you old man?" The second man barked.
"So what will it bee give us everything or let us kick you into the ground. You're gonna die anyway might as well let us make it nice and quick." The third long haired man sneered at Marcon.
"My my... That does sound good." He slowly stood and straitened his back. Standing slightly eye to eye with the leader but a good couple of inches over the others. His hand slipping under the leather garment to the metal handle.
"Should I let you warm up a little before we get to the kicking?"The four spread out their distancing with the stream to the old mans back there was no circling him.
"Your choice grandpa." Each unsheathing their blade unfortunately the old mad move to the one farthest left seeing he was within the mans reach and buried the tip of the short sword into his chest while turning his face to the rest of the group with a grin as he twisted the blade making a sickening wet squish.
"Only three left." Grabbing the mans blade as he let the body fall. Now armed with two blades he turned to the group remaining.
The three gave glances at the others and then to the leader,
"Screw you old timer one lucky hit isnt going to make you win against all of us! Get him!" With a extra blade it almost felt like cheating. The seasoned veteran parried both blade strikes and slashed the sword arm of the long haired guy, cutting the hand from his body.
"Aaaaaaaah~!" The sharp cry was the distraction the warrior needed to pivot and plunge the short blade into his heart before quickly resetting his stance and pulling the blade free from his foe letting the hole cry rivers of blood.
"Two left..." He sneered at the leader. His gruff voice like a wolfs growl.
The leader changed his stance and without warning moved quickly behind his comrade only to shove the man forward to the old knight.
A tactic he had seen like so many before. The ancient battle forged man spun on his heel rolling around the off centered guy letting his blade slice the guys bulbous guts while thrusting his new long blade into the neck of the leader with a slick gurgling sound. A quick twist of the wrist before withdrawing the tip had the leader gurgling his words as he failed at breathing.
"Hmmm, a bit rusty." A upward stroke through the eye finished the leader letting the man turn to face the fat one holding his guts.
"Seems I needed more practice." He dropped the long blade down across the kneeling mans neck and ended their meeting. He looked about the camp seeing them all creating pools of blood,
"Well looks like I really ruined the area this time Rose." Wiping the blades off on their backs before making his way to the cart. The ground near the river was soaked so digging would be easy. The old man grabbing a shovel from the back made two graves just deep enough for their bodies. He searched them for coin and blades before dragging them to their rest. The smirk returned letting the fatter one hold his leader before covering the two in mud.
In the morning he had some food and with five horses, hit the trail again. Letting Rose rest while the two younger pulled the cart. The long blade was a fair blade but nothing he would want long term. Deciding to set it length ways to the cart to hide the blade. It was sad the men had little in value, they died as they lived ...lacking. The rest of the trip was boringly uneventful. As time wore on he sighed hoping the town was being over run by huge overpowered devils preying on the souls of the virtuous for Marcon to have one final glorious bout. His mind filled with glory he flicked his wrists letting the leather leads lightly whip the new additions into a quicker pace.
_____________________________________________
Becky Hill
Dawnhaven, Eye of the beholder 7pm
Becky stood there eyeing the girl in the brown cloak suspiciously. She wore a mans bouse shirt and trousers, with knee high riding boots. Letting out a sigh before sniffing the air. The food smelled boiled near to death and no herbs beyond garlic and onions. As much as she wanted to, the dark raven haired woman was far too tired tonight to even bother. Picturing the kitchen to probably be in more need of repair than the front door. The woman stood there full bodied and every part of her pump like a farm tomato. The wavy long, raven black hair hung loose down her back, nearly reaching her pinched waist.
“My name is Syraeia, I am the Inn Keeper of the Eye of Beholder.” Sya said formerly and with an even tone of voice. “We had…an incident, we are looking to repair it as soon as possible.” She said smoothly and tackled the Elephant in the room. Or door.
She overhered with her more sensitive hearing the distant conversation, senses had taken a long time to adapt too, shaking her head a little as her world coloured into a yellowy… orange…blues at the very edge of vision… like something is breaking through… something more than what her normal eye saw. “I'm sorry Miss, we are full, the Prince booked the last two rooms we have, alongside two committed to a long term guest. I can offer you a basement to bed down, I can offer hot food, and drinks.” Sya spoke as she looked at the woman who she had to decline due to a shortage of space.
“Would you like to sit down for a hot stew and an ale?” She offered with a pleasant tone and an apology. Sya spoke softly with an easy tone and looked out under her hood, several inches shorter and much more slight than the other woman who was much more heavily built.
Her heart sank. Introductions were the common practice and even though she was tired first impression were important.
"My name is Bethany Hill, I am a baker from Lunaria looking to carve out a place in this frontier lands. I traveled far, and too tired for food. If the ...basement has a bed, or cot, and a pillow and blanket I'll take it for the night. Seria, was it? I'm not certain who is cooking but in the morning I can help. I've been baking since I could move the stool over to the stove. I'm very good at bread baked good and can do all the general fair. I'm guessing being way out here has you at a lacking for herbs and spices. I know a man who can start sending us stock items for a price." Her voice all manner of tired sighs and exhausted inflections. She stopped to even yawn and stretch her thick arms above her head.
"Seems this place really does need me." She quietly spoke to the room. Her big brown eyes looking to the innkeeper for her final decision.
Mentions:
@PrinceAlexus
PrinceAlexus,
Vampiretwilight,
Lildear18,
WhiteAngel25,
TokyoPewPew,
rabidbacon,
Damycles,
DELETED08726,
The Muse,
Silent Showers
