A Tale of Death and Immortality

Chapter One

"I hate the North." A knight said walking into the tavern. It was dimly lit, candles suspended from the ceiling in small chandeliers providing the only light. A winter storm was raging outside.
"I wouldn't say that around here. Won't be welcomed very easily." A cloaked man said from the bar when the knight walked up and ordered a pint. The tavern was bustling with activity. Drunken laughter and singing could be heard around, as well as arguing of course. The knight took his pint and found a table with other knights, leaving the cloaked man by himself at the bar. Lowell liked it that way, less contact with people meant less risk. He was drinking water and eating a bowl of stew when a woman sat down at the bar next to him. The woman had dark red, wavy, hair that went halfway down her back. She was wearing leather armor and had a black scarf. She also had a rapier on her belt. She asked for a pint and drank half of it before looking over at Lowell.
"My name's Katlyn."
Lowell looked over at Katlyn, his green eyes meeting her hazel ones. "I'm Lowell." He responded with a monotone pitch.
"Lowell?" She pondered.
"I never thought The Scythe, or Death's Hand, was from the Glace Tundra." She said quietly with a smirk.
Lowell went pale, how could she know he was The Scythe? He pulled his glove off and calmly extended it for a handshake, Katlyn did the same. She shook Lowell's hand with a pleasant smile, "Nice to meet you."
This simple smile broke Lowell. She didn't fall to the floor lifeless, she was sitting next to him shaking his hand.
He recoiled his hand and reached for his dagger.
Katlyn breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't die. Although it was an outcome she would be okay with, breaking her curse was more desirable than death. She noticed his shock and him reaching for his dagger. Although she couldn't die, the pain was very much still real, and she did not want to see how much he could hurt her.
"I can explain, I'm not you're enemy, I want to help us break our curses." She said quickly and quietly. Lowell lightened his grip on his dagger.
"How can I trust you?" He paused, "you have one chance."
"I know who you are, I can't die, and I didn't report you to the Asèna."
She hoped this was enough to convince him, and luckily it was, at least for now.
"Okay Fine, but we need to go somewhere private," Lowell said, standing up. He put on his glove and walked towards the tavern's door, heading outside into the snow.
Katlyn stood up and fished two gold coins out of her pocket and set them on the bar before leaving.
The snow was raging, falling in chaotic swirls. Lowell's hood was torn off by the wind as he walked down the snow-covered road to the Gravdon Inn. An old stone building like all the other ones in Bridge Town. Katlyn followed quickly. Before going to the tavern she rented a room anticipating that it was the inn Lowell had chosen.
The door creaked open and a blast of cold air and snow entered the Inn as Lowell and Katlyn entered.
"Sorry about that," Lowell said to the innkeeper. She was an old woman with kind, tired eyes.
"No worries dear, you know how it is during winter." She said from behind the counter. "You two have a nice night." She said as they ascended up the stairs to where to rooms were. Lowell went to his room and unlocked it with a key he pulled from his pocket. The room consisted of a fireplace, a bed, and a table with two chairs. The bed had a saddlebag and other things on it, most notably a necklace with a wolf head pendant made of ice. Lowell sat in one of the chairs by the table, Katlyn in the other. The fire quietly crackled in the brief silence.
"So, explain yourself," Lowell said, getting to the point at hand.
"My name is Katlyn Payne, I was born 856 years ago. When I was 30 I caught phthisis. As my body deteriorated I sought out the Witch of Wishes in Morgana. As I coughed blood onto her floors I asked to be cured. She granted me my wish and I returned home to find my husband dead." She paused to take a breath and Lowell interjected,
"I don't care at the moment. Why and how do you know who I am?"
Katlyn sighed, "I first caught wind of your existence when you assassinated the previous Lycan King. I was an advisor to King Emrys at the time. A few months later I happened to be in the Dragon Hall when you came to assassinate Tayena."
"What do you mean you were in the Dragon Hall? I killed everyone in there." Lowell interrupted.
"I'm 800 years old, I know how to hide. Anyways, when you killed her with the touch of your finger, I knew it had to be The Witch that gave you that power. I followed you knowing that together we might stand a chance to break our curses." She finished, then looked up at him.
"How do you know I want this curse broken?"
"Because you let me explain myself after I said I want to help us break our curses." She said folding her arms.
"Touché"
Lowell looked down at the table, this was all a lot to take in at once. He had been cursed for 18 years, and now he was told he had a chance to break it.
Katlyn took this moment of silence to look around, taking notice of Lowell's things.
"You're friends with the Glace Queen..." She said, seeing the ice wolf head pendant. A pendant that never melts, only given to those chosen by the Queen herself.
"Queen Zoelle, of wolves and ice." He said, stating her full title. Lowell looked up from the table and to Katlyn.
"Anyways, how are we supposed to find The Witch?" He asked, trying to further their plan of action.
"I've been keeping tabs on her for years. When you advise a king, you can gain quite a network of connections. But I suppose that's all gone now since I abandoned my position..." She paused, thinking about how that was probably a mistake. "The Witch visits the vampires in Morgana every few years. Her schedule is never consistent, but she will be there eventually." Katlyn said confidently.
"It will take at least a week to get there," Lowell said moderately annoyed. He was on his way to Lunaria, which was already a fortnight from Bridge Town. But this detour would be worth it if they succeeded.
Katlyn thought that maybe he was going to deny her offer. This worried her. She had put almost everything on the line for this chance to kill The Witch.
"We'll have to buy supplies in the morning," Lowell said after a moment.
Katlyn breathed a sigh of relief, "yes. But for now, I think we should get our rest." She said while standing up. Lowell nodded in agreement.
"Goodnight then."
"And to you as well."
Katlyn left Lowell's room and walked down the hallway to her own. Lying on their beds in their separate rooms they fell asleep slowly. A long journey was in store. They must be prepared.

~~~

On Wolf Island, there is a stone castle carved into the side of Mt. Howl. This is the palace of the Lycan King. He sat on his obsidian throne and listened to his visitor.
"The Scythe will be trapped on The Isle of Shadows in 3 days time." She said, then took a deep bow and turned to leave the throne room.
"Wait."
The woman stopped and turned back towards the Lycan King.
"I must thank you, witch, for giving me this information." He said, then told one of his servants to gather 5000 gold coins.
"Oh I have no need for gold, It is a gift. And please, call me Eris."