" Well, well, well, what do we have here?" a frighteningly gruff voice asked with a quiet chuckle as if he had formed the funniest joke in forever.

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Polished black shoes leading to long legs clad in Onyx trousers a reflection of the night sky in all its dark glory. Leading to an emerald green tunic moulded against its host and a square jaw clenched tight bracing for a negative reaction waited - a jagged scar slashed across a milky white sightless eye ending at the bottom of the other cheek drove fear in the heart who looked upon him.

I stared in fascination at the new face, the shock of the day finally catching up to me more than the sight of such a shocking face. A curious part of me wondered how he received it but more concerning matters needed attending to and I had just seen my possible-saviour.

"They're coming! Please help!"

Running to hide behind the mountain of a man was the perfect solution, for the time being anyway.

Thump!

The tavern door slamming open and the marching of booted feet was the only thing I could hear as my heart beat erratically as if to escape its certain fate with or without me.

"HALT in the name of lord Fersugil High Lord and Master of Feril village and chancellor to the king!"

Silence met this proclamation, a beat too long.

"I'm coming in, stand down and watch as this is the will of lord Fersugil Master of Fer-"

"yes we know, you mentioned" scary mountain man replied dryly 

In a voice suggesting his complete lack of awe and fear, but more so highlighted his annoyance at a pesky fly in the presence of fearsome eagles.

"Come on in already and come get him. This wee little lad the one you looking for ? Seems a right good waist of man-power if you ask me." Then looking curiously at me he asked" What ye do little man to earn such a chase?" A hint of humour lit his voice to an almost pleasant drawl only further angering the wounded soldier standing at the door, not physically of course, more in a matter of pride.

'Shadow 1' always held himself in such high regard it was almost comical at the turn of events and I might have even laughed if 'mountain' wasn't carving holes into me with his piercing gaze assessing everything I did. Trying to look as innocent as possible I answered:

"I did nothing sir! nothing at all, just going along minding my business" adding a blink of my widened eyes for effect.

"Hmm" replied the man with a raised eyebrow.

I mentally cringed. I had layered it too thick, I should have known, curses, I was never good at this and I always got caught. The truth was the best to go with.

Clearing my throat in a vain attempt to reduce the scathing suspicion I rephrased my sentence.

"Umm, actually... let me rephrase that, I might have... there's just the smallest possibility that ... I might have -"

"Oh, spit it out boy, we don't have all day now, whatever you did it couldn't have been that bad, plus you won't be hanged without the king and his closest advisor's sanction" He added with a smirk thoroughly enjoying my unease. Chuckles followed his apparent jibe.

It had been a long time since he was in the presence of any one this young without hearing a piercing scream or horrified gasp.

It was only then that I realised that there was a whole host of imposing men dining and enjoying large jugs of ale and mead. Their curious stares and murmurs palpable in the thick near-silence that enveloped us all. All of them wore green and black, sword scabbarded at their hips and axes or some broadsword strapped to their backs.

" I-I-I I ran sir." I whispered, dreading the awful disappointed look and coming punishment.

Running was not acceptable, running was for cowards and Master Fersugil housed no cowards. I had neglected completing my tasks to the utmost perfection to run away towards my hideout - another thing we don't do, hiding is for the weak , and Master Fersugil houses no weaklings, we are made known of that.

Going without food for days improved our endurance,

Going without the luxuries and comfort we take for granted develops our perseverance,

Going without the love and kindness encourages brave spirits,

Going through the scaring, whipping creates discipline and perfection.

Master Fersugil knows best that's why he's in charge.

'Mountain' blinked as if in confusion, but that must have been an act for he had to know that this was a crime of great offence.

"That's all little man ? Not so bad that, we all have to run once in a while. Why take me and my men we need to run to do out daily training sessions. Isn't that right ?"

"You betcha, hay kid listen up it's mighty fine to run. It just means you know to choose your battles. " Replied the man standing behind 'mountain' in a comforting voice trying his best to make me feel better, mistaking my horrified expression for one of sadness instead of the fear and amazement of their ignorance that it was.

I shook my head vigorously waiting for the blow to come, tensing what little muscles I had in anticipation.

'Mountain' and 'guard' (the man behind 'mountain') shared a shadowed look as if communicating in a language only they and the assembled knew as the near-silence was promptly followed by angry wipers of

"What a tyrant that man is ..."

"Those poor children.."

"...thinks he's so important..."

I opened my closed eyes realising that at some point of the exchange I had cowered, 'mountain' and 'guard' stood stock still as they carefully analysed me.

"Your one of Lord Fersugil's sons" 'guard' asked softly. I nodded in mute fascination as the angry faces around me turned to one's of pity towards me. I had never seen such a large company of soldiers for surely they had to be soldiers or would not look so fearsome nor carry with them the air of such scathing justice.

"Enough !" Shadow 1 abruptly  interrupted. Quit rudely in fact earning a scowl from Guard' and a calculating look from 'Mountain'

"This is far from an inquiry or pleasant proposal, but a command ! A command I say ! And not from me but from Master Fersugil High Lord and Master of Feril village and chancellor to the king!"

This statement was met with instant groans from 'Mountain' and 'Guards' friends and a significant eye roll from 'Mountain'. So much so that for a moment his eyes rolled back  in his head and  I was afraid he had fainted of fear or awe or what looked closely to annoyance at the time I could not tell...

Of course, that did not happen and 'Mountain', 'Guard' and the rest of them waited patiently for my reply as if understanding my sudden confusion and state of panic and resignation.

" I - I Y-yes sir. Master Fersugil took me in." a moment of silence greeted my declaration as I numbly decided that this was it.

They would see through me and understand what 'shadow 1' and his entourage had seen in me to be constantly testing and harassing me.

With a second thought, maybe I should elaborate and flatter, maybe then just maybe, I could survive today without a concussion or better yet a broken bone.

" And I'm incredibly grateful, very, very grateful. " I eagerly nodded along to my announcement to reinstate my point. "I wouldn't be here without him, he might have seemed terrible and inconsiderate at times but he cared and Master Fersugil knows best."

Now that - I was thoroughly sure of Mater Fersugil did know best as it was a phrase often repeated in the house. The servants' stairs were always full of teary-eyed children fleeing to escape the wrath of some member of the higher class and the older servants would frequently stop by to wipe away our tears and repeat the well know utterance - "Master Fersugil Knows best, he has our best interests at heart "

We would all be positively convinced that this was true and carry on with our activities. For no one would hold so much emotion that their eyes would cloud over with restraint tears - of course, of joy and assurity of their knowing's, without being sure, we would have expected no less.

'Shadow 1' had conveniently taken this time to slither his way towards me and 'Mountain' his black attire making him out as his namesake - a shadow. Black form-fitting trousers cleanly pressed, not a speck of dust on them. No one would have thought that this man had spent the last bell running through the filthy streets, like jumping through hoops of fire and leaving unscathed from heat and fire, not a strand of perfect chole black hair out of place from the tie that held it in place at the nape of 'Shadow 1's' neck. His shirt was, as always, strategically tucked into his trousers allowing his calf-length cape to mould itself impeccably over.

"Move !" 'Shadow 2' roughly shoved me towards the door and further away from my possible saviour whose eyes flashed in the dim light something akin to remorse glittering in those emerald depths.

I knew it!

What was I thinking? I was so stupid, having the hope that this would be my safe passage.

All of a sudden 'shadow 1' and his colleagues had formed a line behind me blocking the entrance to the front door and 'Mountain' and 'Guard's' friends had made a front at my other side. I was left in the middle. Alone, again.

"Come along 'lad' " 'Shadow 2' chuckled to his mocking phrase imitating 'Mountain'.

'Shadow 1's' heavy paw clasped my shoulder in a bruising grip slowly yet surely stirring me to the door. With the last accusing glare behind me - I left.
Left the place that had become so vital for me in the past sol Motus.
Left the memories that I would clutch to in my worst times.
Left the little comfort I had found.

The tavern door stood ever closer, a looming mountain, stark in contrast to the other behind me. The hinges glimmered in the fading light as if signifying my likewise withering spirit as it fled to hide behind its gilded cage.

At least I'm not dead yet was my last thought before I departed the thresholds of my sanctuary, it was also the last thing I remembered before I was promptly hit at the back of my head with what I presumed was the hilt of 'Shadow 2's' imposing broadsword - rendering me unconscious.

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