The Dead Cat

[Cherubian]

[This thread is currently closed]

Cherdwyn was kneeling next to the corpse and stared towards the horizon with an empty expression. There had been tears in her brilliant blue eyes, and the last dried remains still graced her cheeks, but now she could cry no more. The sadness inside her slowly but surely made way to a cold hatred and desire for vengeance. Vengeance on those that had wrought this on the people of the village.

It had been an hour ago that she had come over the hill to the south. Something had felt not quite right even before, that eerie silence where the noise of fifty or more people should have been. And then she had seen the charred remains of the huts, and the lifeless human forms or parts thereof in between. Immediately she had rushed into the village, looking for Fialanna, and two meters in front of her hut she had found her. Her skull was caved in, with dried blood covering most of her face, and her torn clothing was a clear indication of what else she had had to endure before her brutal death. She also had found Fialanna's two children inside, and the simple thought of returning in there once more made even her hardened stomach turn.

But there was no more grief. She got to her feet and tried to rap as much of the dirt and grime off her simple dress as she could. Looking around it must have been two or three days since whoever had plundered and burned that village had left. The tracks of numerous horses indicated that whatever that robber band was it had traveled in a southward direction.

It was then that her sensible ears picked up the sound of hooves from the north. Someone else was coming, but most likely it was not who had committed this atrocity. She looked down at herself to check what an impression she would give. There were still occasional traces of grime on the pale skin of her bare lower arms or in her straw blond hair, but besides that she just looked like a regular maid or farmers daughter, although an extremely pretty one. Her body was on the skinny side, with her literally outstanding breasts the notable exception, even under several layers of clothing. She had no mirror, but she knew her face would do its part to charm whoever these new arrivals were, with its innocent, almost angelic features, an innocence she herself no longer had.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael looked about the village, the Warlord had passed here, that was very clear. Everything was dead or burnt, cattle, livestock, dogs, yes even cats that was caught was dead, bodies littered the streets and alleys, dried blood was mixed with the mud of the street, pools of bloody water. Where there should be the smell of clean air and pine trees, burnt wood and flesh contended with the smell of putrid flesh, he ran his gaze over the unfortunate village.

"Poor bastards, they didn't stand a chance."

His one lieutenant, Kergan, sat next to him,

"Shall we order a search anyway m'lord?"

Michael grunted,

"We must bring hope to any survivors there is Kergan, order the search, even if the prospects seems bleak."

Orders were barked out and the soldiers spread out into village, of course the search was futile, the Warlord's soldiers were very thorough. The tracks headed South from the village and less than an hour later Michael led his group out, past the tree from which broken bodies hung. The sadistic reminder that their prey knew that they were following him and that he left these trees in his wake to let them be sure they still followed the right trail. His training urged him to bury the dead, but by now he had realized that is what the Warlord used to get further ahead of him. Now he just sent messengers to nearby villages informing them of the task and pressed onwards. In the distance he could see smoke rising and he knew that another village was burning. Five days of travel to reach the village...it was better than the twenty days they had started out with.

The five days felt like forever, the smoke thinned out on the second day, but they kept going along the trail left behind for them. Mocking them. The scene was the same as every other village, death came to anything that moved and could not be taken along. Michael removed his helmet and sighed as he surveyed the scene, he looked at his two lieutenants Kergan and Rolf, sturdy and trustworthy men.

"Order the search,"

his voice was low and his throat felt dry, they could not draw water from the wells or the streams close to the trail or villages as they could have been poisoned. He had to make a decision, they will need water and a few days rest, the warlord and his band would go on their path of destruction, but then again, justice will catch up with him sooner or later.

"We have a survivor!"

Those words shocked everybody, Michael nudged his big warhorse forwards, curious as to see who escaped the holocaust that this animal brought upon the people of the land.

 

[Cherubian]

Cherdwyn had moved out of the direct line of sight as she had seen the first tips of the spearmean appear behind the northern hills. Another army was coming, and she preferred to get the first look.

From behind the charred remnants of one of the hut's walls she closely watched the arrival. As she had guessed these were also soldiers, around fift yin total, about half of them on horse. And she could already hear two wagons coming up behind them. But those were no plunderers. There was an air of depression and sadness over the unit, not the eagerness for more prey usually found in roving bands. She would not have anything to fear from them, or so she thought. And if they would try to harm her, well ...

It did not take long until one of the foot soldiers rounded the corner and got to see her. There was an expression of shock and surprise on his face, and it took him a few seconds before he finally got a hold of himself again and yelled "We have a survivor!"

The knight wo obviously was in command immediately steered his horse closer to her, and she just silently looked up to him as he approached.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael Griffon

She was a pretty little thing, the sadness in her eyes and the tear streaks on her face touched his heart, heaving himself out of the saddle, he stepped closer to her.

"M'lady, me deepest condolences on your loss. I am Sir Michael Griffon, loyal subject to King Rodar. I have been charged in hunting down the beast responsible for this carnage and bring him to justice, either the king's court or a sword's point. Do you have any nearby family we can escort you to? If not we can offer you protection until we come to a church where you will be kept safe."

His eyes slid carelessly over her body and he knew that quite a lot of the soldiers watching would be staring and thinking lewd thoughts, he looked over his shoulder.

"Keep searching, there may be others around."

 

[Cherubian]

"Don't bother, there are none." came her immediate dry reply to his last order. Her expression made it clear that she had spent some time searching already.

So old King Rodar was not completely ignorant to the suffering of his lowly peasants, and had actually dispatched some forces between his prolonged periods of idleness and indulgence to restore a semblance of order in these remote stretches of his kingdom? Or did this knight act out of his own accord, just using the king's name as a legitimation for his cause. She did not care either way, these soldiers would be a useful means to exact the revenge she wanted. The occasional interested glance of some of the soldiers was something she was used to by now, so that did not bother her either.

"I am Cherdwyn, pleased to meet you. And no, I do not have any relatives anymore. So I would be thankful if you could take me along for a while." She was not so sure any church people would be particularly happy to take her in, but then she did not know of any large one nearby.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael Griffon

He gave a small bow,

"Round up, Denzil, George head out, find water. Tonight we prepare a meal, we make camp, cooking duty usual rotation, the rest of you...grave duty."

He helped Cherdwyn onto his own horse and walked beside her as he lead the horse out of town, the other soldiers roaming out looking for a camp site. They passed the tree and Michael looked at it with cold anger. He will make that bastard pay for this insult, arriving at the picked spot he looked up at Cherdwyn, again struck by her beauty.

"Were you here when the attack happened? If you do not know what happened that is fine as well, I would like to know how you came to be in the town."

 

[Cherubian]

She was a little surprised that a noble knight would give up his horse for some peasant girl, even if only temporarily. After all, she could just as easily have found a spot on one of the wagons. But she did not complain and took that opportunity to travel a bit more comfortably.

Looking down at him as he asked her she coyly replied "No mylord, I was not in the village when the attack happened. Which is probably just as well, since otherwise I would also..." She let her voice trail off, and hung her head, looking away.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael Griffon

Oh he understood how it was alright, just because of his standing in the realm, it did not mean he was blind and deaf. He gave her hand a consoling pat and came to a halt at a huge tent, one of the soldier standing at the entrance snapped to attention. Michael gave a chuckle and just shook his head,

"Andrew, we are in the field, no need for the whole attention salute thing, I know you are loyal, that is what counts."

He helped Cherdwyn from the horse and motioned at the tent,

"This will be your place for the remainder of your stay. Andrew make sure that she is taken care of and not disturbed."

He turned to face her,

"I hope that you can forgive my abrupt departure, but I have to help with the burial of those whom passed away, grave digging is a work few soldiers enjoy, but they tend not to complain when their leader joins them."

He nodded and moved away, at one of the wagons he got helped to shed his armor. Taking hold of a spade he waited for the rest to assemble and together they moved back to the village to perform the sad task.

 

[Cherubian]

An interesting knight, that Sir Michael for sure. Cherdwyn reminded herself to wait for a god opportunity to ask him who or what was responsible for the slaughter at the village that they were after now. At least they had a common goal.

With nothing else to do for now she turned to the soldier that had been called Andrew who was standing in front of what she herself considered the troop tent, and asked him "Say, would you show me where to put my things? This is a very large tent by all means, who else will spend the night in here?" Not that she minded sleeping under the same roof, or rather length of cloth in this case, as the soldiers.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Andrew

"This is the commander's tent ma'am. We will have it furbished shortly...well it just needs a brazier, bed and table with chair, but it is not one of the most uncomfortable spaces available in camp."

He bowed slightly, following Michael's example,

"I will get the furniture ready, please excuse me."


Michael Griffon

Michael enjoyed his break, it's been a long time since he had to dig graves, especially for a whole village, it was hard work as the rain had turned the lower ground into a soggy mess.

"Commander we have to catch that rat bastard,"

he nodded his agreement,

"I know Clyde, but we can't keep on pressing like we have done the past two months, everybody needs rest and we need provisions. Let him get his few days head start, after this break he would better be prepared to meet his end."

He said this loud enough and a few of the soldiers actually gave a small cheer, they wanted to get back to their families and loved ones, but they also understood why they had to stop this evil.

 

[Cherubian]

Cherdwyn called out to Andrew as he was about to leave. She was just a bit confused and needed clarification for this.

"Uh, please tell me, are you sure I am supposed to sleep in there? I mean, if it is the commander's tent? And where will he sleep then?"

Judging by the size of the tent there most certainly was enough space in it for both of them, but if the commander wanted her to sleep next to him this hinted at certain intentions. On the othe rhand she was not sure she wanted him to go to such great lengths because of her, that might also cause bad blood.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Andrew

"Well ma'am the commander did state that you must stay there. Under the Code that governs how he acts most of the time, that is what is expected and he does it with a good heart. Must be the only nobleman I know of who would do something like that."

He shrugged,

"He will most probably sleep in one of the troop tents, he seems to prefer that to the bed at times."

 

[Cherubian]

"Ah well, as your leader wishes."

This Sir michael definitely was a strange fellow. It seemed he really had ingested whatever code was thrust upon the knights of the kingdom, and was hell bent on treating her as a noble lady. Or there was something darker hiding behind the noble facade. Either way she would soon find out.

So she just settled down outside the tent, with her back to its wall, and patiently waited for the servants to finish furnishing the tent.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael Griffon

The sun was setting as they finished burying the last body, they have searched everywhere, even the charred bones have been buried. Everybody was dirty and sweaty, but glad that it was over. Michael have seen battle hardened veterans cry as they had to lay babies into the graves, he himself did not show any emotion, but he had sympathy for his men, this was hard to go through and in their searches they only looked for life and the true horror of what happened didn't really sink in. He was sure that when they caught up with the warlord, the chances of him reaching the king alive was zero.

"Let's get cleaned and fed, we will camp here until we have filled up our supplies. I guess it will be four days so go over your gear and rest out. When I resume this hunt, we will not stop until that rat bastard is dead."

They all nodded agreement, gathered the equipment and started back to camp, Michael stayed for a while longer, looking at the graves, lives snuffed out at the whim of a monster. He muttered a silent prayer for the souls of the people, then picked up his shovel and headed back to camp and the cold bath. Most knights insisted on heated water, but he didn't tax his men with that request, he lived and fought like they did and that alone placed him apart from the other knights.

 

[Cherubian]

Finally some of the servants had placed the furniture as promised, and as soon as they left the tent she rose and walked in, testing the bed at first.It was a plain affair, and not particularly soft, but one could sleep comfortably on it and that was what counted. She stowed her backpack next to it and layed down.

There was not much she could do besides that, so she decided to rest. Maybe she could aid standing watch at night, most of the men, especially those digging graves, would be dead tired by then.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael Griffon

As he entered the camp, Andrew came rushing closer, Michael hid a small smile, maybe he should take Michael as his squire, the lad sure seemed very interested in that.

"Andrew have Denzil and George returned yet?"

"Yes sir and they have left again, they have found a small fountain with clean, fresh water."

He had noticed that the men who was in the village was drinking water and nodded,

"Draw a warm bath for the lady, always remember Andrew, be courteous towards all types of women, no matter what their standing."

Andrew nodded and hurried away, Michael watched Kergan come walking closer,

"Orders sir?"

"Get them cleaned up, then break out the wine, I'm sure that the day would be best forgotten when drowned in wine."

Kergan grinned,

"As you wish sire, but the lady?"

Michael gave him a grim smile,

"Oh you know how I feel about a man forcing himself on a lady. If she is willing I have no say in the matter."

Kergan chuckled and walked away, Michael placed his shovel with the others and walked to where the baths was, he would have some water later, first he wanted to get the grime from his body.

 

[Cherubian]

Cherdwyn was torn out of her light slumber by the sounds of soldiers entering the tent yet again. She almost did not trust her eyes as they indeed brought in something that loosely resembled a bath tub. That Sir Michael definitely was crazy, burdening himself down on such a mission with luxury items like these...

So she silently watched as the placed down the tub, then wordlessly left and soon returned with buckets full of steaming water. This process repeated itself several times over, until the tub was decently filled, but on their faces it was quite visible that they did not share their commander's view on how to treat a common peasant woman, no matter how good looking. Especially if the brunt of the work fell onto their shoulders. She herself had to smile at the thought of what would have happened if there had been more than one female survivor, say half a dozen or so.

Finally the soldiers left, undoubtedly looking forward to enjoy some of the wine themselves, and Andrew appeared, asking for any more wishes of her.

"Well" she replied with a smile "so far I have all I need. How can I make sure that no one will barge in while I indulge in that bath that your commander has so generously offered to me?"

 

[DeathsKnight]

Andrew blinked,

"Well uhm there is pegs on the inside that you can hook through the loops to keep the entrance closed? Also I'll offer to stand watch outside until you are finished? I'm pretty sure that when the commander returns he will relieve me so that I can also have a taste of the wine...it's been a long time since I had some of that to drink."

He quickly demonstrated how the pegs worked and then ducked outside to stand guard until Michael finished bathing.

 

[Cherubian]

Cherdwyn just nodded ang gave him a thankful smile. Then she added "Do you think it will be necessary to stand watch? Judging by what I have seen so far Sir Michael seems to have a good reign over his troops, so closing the pegs shoudl suffice, should it not? This way you can enjoy the pleasantries the evening has to offer a little sooner."

As soon as he had left the tent she did as had been demonstrated and closed of the entrance as good as she could. Once that was done she quickly shed her clothes next to the bathtub, and once naked stepped into it and sat down. The warm water felt wonderful as it soaked her skin, and for a bit she just sat there and relaxed under its soothing effect.

After a few minutes, though, she finally reached for the soap and began the process of cleaning herself in earnest. The first step of that process was to get up and lather her body extensively while she stood knee deep in the water.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael Griffon

He walked to the tent that he had given up for Cherdwyn and was half expecting Andrew to be peeking inside. Instead he found the young man standing at rigid attention, slightly flustered, he grinned and returned the salute. He spoke in a soft tone so that they could not be overheard,

"Seems like you like what you saw Andrew, I must admit that I envy you."

He continued in his normal tone,

"You are free to go Andrew, I'll wait for our guest to finish up."

Andrew nodded, his face even more flushed, Michael watched him scurry off and chuckled softly, he sat down on the ground, crossing his legs at the ankles and leaned on his shoulders. He could hear the water sloshing around from his tent and he smiled at the thought of a young female inside his tent, naked. He glanced at where the troops had a big fire going, by the copious amounts of wine going around, it wouldn't take them too long to go to bed. The only troops not drinking too much was the ones who had to go to bed early to take the later guard duties.

 

[Cherubian]

Cherdwyn continued - to her mild surprise completely unperturbed - until all the dirt and grime had been washed away. She definitely looked even more presentable now, her soft pale skin now completely clean. As the soldiers had even thought to bring something resembling a towel she finally dried herself and stepped out of the tub, trying to towel her blond mane decently dry before putting on her clothes again. A pity she had nothing fresh to change into.

Finally she was done with everything she could think of. The steam rising from the hot water had made the air inside a bit muggy, slight sheens of moisture already forming agin on her recently dried bare skin, and so she spontaneously decided to get some fresh air by having a look at the camp outside.

Quickly she strode to the entrance, undid the pegs and step outside. For a moment she just stretched her arms back and inhaled the cool, fresh evening air, her eyes slowly, amusedly, roaming over the secen of the partying soldiers that unfolded before her, before she became aware of the knight's form sitting next to her on the ground.

Turning her head to look at him and grant him a smile she asked "Oh, so you are finally done with the burials? But what happened to Andrew?"

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael Griffon

He nodded in the semi-darkness,

"Yes we have finished quite some time ago. Our young Andrew is the lad to the left of the burly soldier over there. Always strange how relaxed most people become with wine and no cares in their system."

He sniffed the night air,

"From the smell of it, dinner should be ready soon. I doubt that most of it will be eaten now."

He glanced at her, she was much more beautiful with the dirt washed off of her, he did hope that the soldiers would behave themselves, he didn't want to whip them into order...then again it never hurt to regain order with a firm hand, he just didn't like it.

"I hope that your accommodations is...satisfactory? I could not bring more along, so I have to apologize if it is inadequate."

Why was he striving to satisfy this woman? Sure his vows bound him to honoring her, but wanting to satisfy her? That was not part of his promises, he looked at her again and found that there was just a different air about her, what it was he didn't know, but it was not bad.

 

[Cherubian]

"More than satisfactory actually" she grinned, almost laughed at this remark. "I am still wondering what made you drag a real bathtub along on that mission of yours. Were you expecting a lot of female company?"

She kept standing as she also observed the drinkikng crowd. Yes, for the moment the horrors of the day had been forgotten, but she knew it would be a short reprieve. Wine could never do mor than that.

Finally, without looking at him, she continued "But tell me, you seem to be following whoever did this for some time already. What do you know about him?"

 

[DeathsKnight]

Michael Griffon

"The tub was loaded as the troops expect their commander to bathe in warm water,"

he shook his head,

"Some people let their might go to their heads."

He sat up and then got to his feet,

"Actually I do not know much, I know that the amount of men he has with him is far more in numbers, I'd guess 200 to 250. They have no remorse for their actions and make sure to leave none alive. At each village a tree is picked and... "decorated" with bodies, always in the direction that they are moving in. From the wounds we have determined that they carry swords, clubs, daggers, spears and some type of spiked club. That is all that I really know about this warlord."

 

[Cherubian]

Michaela nodded, as she watched the gathered soldiers closer.

"And despite being outnumbered that badly you are intent on catching him and bringing him to justice? A commendable effort.

What I am wondering, though, is why he would do that. Even if he is just a cruel monster, why massacre people in such an open manner, and leaving a trail that everyone can easily follow? That is bound to attract attention, and one day too much attention for that."

"But I guess we will find out sooner or later."