For Her

2. Bad Intentions

"...And I tell you, this bloody werewolf jumped out of nowhere..."

"Ah, bring in the beer!"

"...gone on a raid..."

"A rise of werewolves in the area lately, it's the cold weather."

"No issue for such knights, I tell you-"

"Excuse me gentlemen." The older rough worn men, warming up with alcohol and hot stew turned as a man, younger than them but rough looking despite his still groomed appearance leaned in closer from his table next to them, his hood slipping back slightly as he smiled politely but a curious glint flickered in his eyes. "I couldn't help overhearing knights on a raid? I happen to be travelling West, do I need to keep an eye out?"

"Ah yes, I would say so." One of the older men said. "Remdragon Knights just passed here days ago to get rid of the festering numbers of goblins and werewolves lingering in the woods and mountains." The younger man hummed thoughtfully, stroking his light brown bread, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Remdragon knights,"

"Yes, about thirty or so of them, led by Lord Calypse of Anatol."

"A fearsome fellow indeed."

"Indeed, tale of his deeds on Lexos Mountain will never fade."

"I've seen what he's capable of, it's impressive." The older men exchanged tales while the younger man who had cut in, listened with a growing steely gaze but he smirked languidly as if he had no care.

"It might be best to wait out until the monsters are eradicated."

"Probably safer yeah." One man nodded his head. "I wouldn't bother travelling for a time."

"Maybe, it's time to go to Anatol." He muttered but the older gentlemen never saw the sinister glint in his eyes. "Haven't been in a while." One man swallowed his drink whole, wiping his sloppy face with his sleeve as he grinned broadly.

"Anatol is definitely a place to be. I'd take that as one of the safest places with the strongest knights. Plus the town is lovely."

"They say the Lord's wife is just as formidable as Lord Calypse. And a wonderful woman at that."

"I've heard she's a beauty."

"Well, she was the daughter of the Duke of Croix so..."

Hmmm...interesting.

"Thank you," He pulled away from his table and the older men looked surprised to see him rise as if they had forgotten someone else was speaking with them. The younger man nodded his head politely. "I will take the advice and head to Anatol. It would best to wait out for a time. Plus I have to make a visit again. Last time didn't go so well."

"Ahaha, good luck boy." The older men jeered, taking his words to a different light as he turned around and strides out of the inn, his polite expression fading away as a grin like dagger crossed his face and he saddled up his horse.

That lady of Anatol...I know exactly the kind of lady she is.

His mind flickered to a stark memory of a woman with flickering eyes of grey as she quaked up at the castle walls, staring him and daring to speak down to him without care, he could only laugh at her. But...she was pretty enough he'd heard and he hadn't forgotten the 'care' he had received at the curtesy of the Lord of Anatol.

Hah!

A man like him, is rare to have a weakness but he does. And...I will destroy him as he did me.

Jumping onto his stallion's back with a wicked grin, he pushed his horse into a gallop, passing through the roads until he came upon the edge of the woods and a swarm of men, about twenty or so of them sat around a growing fire.

"Sir-"

"We head to Anatol." Their eyes widened in shock and surprise as they glanced at each other nervously. "Did you scope out everything?"

"Yes. About thirty to forty Remdragons left Anatol two weeks ago. There's an uprise of werewolves in the west because of the cold weather and no doubt some packs would be around the borders of Anatol."

"They'll be thoroughly distracted for a time being."

"Good. We'll have nothing in our way this time."

"B-but sir, last time..." One man stuttered nervously. "We got caught and your father-"

"And he what?" He sneered at the quivering fool who stammered back stronger.

"We won't survive if we get caught by the Lord again-"

"He's left Anatol and now is our time. We will plan according to plan and I will not have-"

"But sir, it's not worth-URK!" With a casual sigh, the man withdrew a sword so suddenly, it was only a blink when the sword sliced across sharply, a soft hiss as red sprayed out of the questioning mans throat. Everyone froze stunned, watching the man drop to his knees, gasping and gurgling for air, blood soaking through his front so fast, he was dead before he hit the forest floor. With a sigh, he wiped his sword over the dead fools cloak before sheathing it once again and strode to his horse, only looking back with a dangerous glint.

"Who else wants to be left behind as a coward rather than rich?" No one said anything but remained steely and he smirked in delight. "Did you get what we needed?" The men nodded and he followed to where they stood with a large cart and peeking through a tiny hole in the wall, could see several large matted shapes slumped unconsciously. He grinned darkly. "Let's go!" As he turned his horse East, his hood flapping around his head as his thoughts ran wayward and he grinned.

I know that bastard's weakness, so if that bastard Calypse wants to take everything from me again, I will break him.