Red Glass

Next Chapter

Heavily armoured footsteps close in on Red Scarlet Inn through the cold fog of early morn. Rohain, standing from push-up position scopes through the blinds and spots men in full armour, the same kind as the men in the forest. Rohain puts on his leather-strapped tactical mask, and bandolier and lifts his crossbow from the bedside table. Charging through the halls and stairway to the corridor of room thirteen, nothing can stop the wave of task force.

"This is the king's guard, come out unarmed!" The newly promoted Commander demands.

"It's open." Challenges a voice from behind the door.

Commander Yuri looks at his men, coordinating a Ln attack formation. "Just come out!"

Ramming the door open, a white flare illuminates the whole floor, hissing and blinding. Rohain takes cover behind the left breacher, choking from the rear with a dagger under the chin.

"Let him go, we are only here to escort you."

Rohain tightens his grip on his hostage scarcely able to touch the ground with his toes. "Where?" Rohain demands, releasing the tri-blade lock.

"We are here on Mayor Baldwin's orders, he wants to talk with you, that's all we know. Now, let him go!"

"Why bring so many soldiers to just escort?"

"Precautionary measures!"

Rohain's deep brown eyes show a smile.
"Fair enough."
He replies, letting his half-purple hostage fall to the floor to gasp for air.

-

Faris looks at his clawed hand beside the sun's shadow, waiting for the sun to set like a caged lion, when the ticking of his watch stops silent. Since the day of his wedding, never once had he allowed the watch to die, always winding every couple of days. She had not been in the house for months but her fragrance still floated through the air like a ghost, pulling at his soul. Her voice echoes through the times she was by his side, even while away, she had always been there. Winding the crown always reminded him of the day he and his wife became one, and how much he loved her, even after all these years each day it felt new. Pulling the watch from his pocket to set the motions, his eyes catch the inscription:

Lovingly eternally bound

Faris runs his clawed hand through his black hair, covers his mouth and then over his immortal dead heart.
"How can we be bound...
when darkness...
...cannot cross into the light?"

-

The black iron gates of Baldwin Manor are opened for Rohain by the housemaid, Yuri is told only Rohain may enter the grounds at this time if he would kindly oblige. The manor looks reasonably well protected by the gate against dogs but anything more than a child could penetrate the large spikes gate, low balconies and large windows.

"I'm sure you are aware you are due a handsome reward for all the effort you made to return my daughter home safely as implied by the billing forwarded to me from your hotel. Of course, I would not have minded you taking a more luxurious suite all-inclusive. I was told mind that you are a simple man not particularly in pursuit of gold as much as silver, enough to have a coat made for your steed was the deal I believe. Hmm?"

...

"I was informed also that you wore a suit of steel coated in silver and that you never removed it under any circumstances yet here you stand, wearing a gambeson with a silver threaded cross stitch and mask as opposed to the fearsome helmet I had heard of. I thought you slept in your armour so you can understand my surprise."

"I handed it in to the blacksmith for repairs and maintenance as well as to have all the leather straps replaced. It was long overdue but I have been on the road a while. I've earned a rest."

"How would you like armour forged of pure silver as opposed to simply plated?"

"Silver is a soft metal, armour of pure silver would render ineffective against even..."

"That's not my concern." The Mayor's lifeless voice mumbles. "I have a proposition."

"Not interested. I'll just take my reward now."

"Do you not understand? I need your help!"

"Find someone else." Rohain says as he walks towards the exit.

"Then you'll receive naught!"
Mayor Baldwin shouts at Rohain's high back.

Rohain stops.

"I'm sorry, I take that back...I'm desperate. I need your help."
The Mayor stutters.
"Something has happened to Daniella and you are my last hope."

Rohain rushes back , grabbing the mayor by the collar.
"What happened!?" He damands as blades are unsheathed and crossbows are pointed.

Mayer Baldwin signals his men to stand down.
"I cannot explain. You would never believe me, no one would."

"Tell me." He demands, tightening his grip on the collar.

The Mayor waves his hand to dismiss the guards and begging to walk the giant through his house.

"Okay, I'll tell you everything...
When she came home, ... I cannot explain how surreal everything was. We, .. It was emotional. I ran the scenario over and over again in my head of what I would say should I ever see her again but seeing her; absolutely nothing mattered. I thought I had lost her forever to a lie but because of you she returned safe and sound. I could never repay you for what you did for us! Every second felt new and exciting and for the longest time I felt alive. Without her my world became burdensome. Impossible to face, I resented every ease and wanted to punish myself for breathing while I knew not of her condition.
Did she hate me?
Had she found happiness ?
Was she caught in a bear trap dying of starvation?
I had no way of knowing. I sent men but all I could find was news of who she WAS with and where she WAS after she vanished. Daniella felt awful about the investigators I hired to find her because while she was home, they were still out there searching for her."
The Mayor reclines in his large leather chair and lifts a bottle before placing it back, before picking it up a second time to pour Rohain a glass. Rohain looks into the eyes of the host before taking a thin steel tube from his bandolier and placing it in his glass to drink from behind his mask and tilts his head in approval.

"Here, keep the bottle. I promised Daniella I would never drink ever again."

"So you were saying you hired some people to find her that had not returned?"
Rohain reiterates.

"She went out for a walk one day and did not return till nightfall. unconscious on the doorstep. I hired a good doctor to tend to her but yesterday...she killed him."

Mayor Baldwin stops talking outside the door of rotting flesh, sounds of a baby crying, snarling and warping calls for help. Rohain cannot believe his eyes or ears as the shadow. he sees her and kills her before taking the medical report and abruptly leaving.