The Knights of Haile: A Trinity of Heroes

3

Razzius Grimm paced back and forth in the small square space that was his room. The floor boards creaked and a gentle draft blew in through a cracked board on the far wall of his room. He shivered. Eventually, he picked up a tattered, old looking book from the floor and sat in the corner of the room. He opened the pages and proceeded to read, slowly.

It was all he could do to pass the time. Read. Though he wasn't a boy anymore, Razzius found it hard to mingle with others. He had spent much of his early years and much of his teenage years sitting at home, farming and reading and dodging the ire of his drunken father, Wyrn Grimm. 

Razzius spent so much time idle that he had been able to teach himself to read. He could cook, he could work, he could swing his pitchfork just as well as any sword and he could shoot his father's bow even better than Wyrn himself. So why didn't his father love him? Why the ire? Razzius spent many days contemplating this...

"Oi! Razzius! Ya Queer! Git your arse out here, boy!" a voice called from the front yard of the house. Razzius sighed immediately as he already knew who it was. He stood, returned his book to the floor and headed for the front door. 

Razzius pushed the door open and a large wad of horse manure collided with his face immediately. After cleaning it away, Razzius looked at the face of his tormentor. "Fillip," he spoke coldly. "To what do my father and I owe this dubious pleasure?"

Fillip Arcel Galexia, flanked by two of his best friends stood, dressed in fancy attire with a smug smile on his face. "Oh, the little queer has decided to grace us with his presence." He pointed at Razzius. "You've got a bit of shit on your face. Mayhaps you wipe that off?"

"Aye," Razzius agreed. He moved to a wooden trough near the house and began to wash his face.

In moments, Fillip and his cronies were on Razzius. The pushed him into the wash basin and held his head underwater for copious amounts of time. "Fucking queer!" Fillip shouted as he and his cohorts beat on Razzius' ribs. They pulled him up and threw him to the ground, kicking at his face and chest. "See you tomorrow!" Fillip kicked at Razzius one last time before the trio made their way up along the hillside.

Razzius gasped for air as he leaned against the wash basin. He grit his teeth for a moment while he stood and checked himself over. Every day the trio came to his home.

Every...

Single...

Day.