Josiah had been riding for two days now. Only stopping at night for his horse to rest. Going as fast as the horse could maintain, Josiah crashed through the woods along the small dirt path.
Until eventually he found the meeting location.
Josiah had been familiar with the address. It was an old manor that had been used for meeting with the Duke of Wolfhaven in the past. But now, it looked abandoned. The once vibrant colors muted, the flags that once proudly hung ripped and worn. Vines consuming the foundation and several windows broken. A mere echo of the building it once was.
Josiah moved to the front of the building where he heard voices. For once not the ones in his head. But rather the rough accent of the north coming from inside. Tying up his horse and dismounting,
Josiah walked up to the cracked front door. His anxiety skyrocketing with each step, his heart pounding as his hand reached the knob, and slowly. Opened the door, and walked inside…
Upon entering Josiah saw around a dozen men. All standing further in the room, seeming not to have noticed him yet. He heard grunting, and cheers from the back.
"You know! I think she's tighter now than she was before."
"Hurry up, we all want our round before we throw her back down there…"
Round? What are they talking about? Josiah started approaching when he was finally noticed.
"Holy shit! Prince Charming finally arrived! Man I thought he wasn't coming."
The men all turned to look at him. Their eyes full of malice. The leader of the group snapped his fingers and the man furthest back finally stood up.
"Guess he can have this back now."
Josiah drew his sword. His body shaking and fear setting in.
'Are they going to return her that easily? I thought surely I'd have to negotiate..'
When suddenly something was thrown right infront of him. A body. Nyx's body.
Josiah froze. As he looked at her his stomach emptied. He turned away and threw up the little food he had eaten.
Her body was almost unrecognizable. Her arms lay a bloody ruin, flayed and broken uselessly attached to her body. Her legs had been amputated above the knee. Cuts and whip marks on almost every inch of her skin. Her clothes barley still clinging to her body. She was covered and bruises from her neck down. But. What really disturbed him was her eyes. Her eyes had been crudely sown shut, but the string had come loose. Revealing her eyes had been removed. Dried blood flaked from her ears. If not for her face being otherwise left untouched Josiah wouldn't even have been able to identify her.
"She was a lot of fun. Shame she broke earlier this morning but hey. All of the best toys do at some point."
The laughter of the men filled the room. Sighing the leader drew his weapon. And his group followed suit.
"Ah yes, but you have to die here, sorry."
Josiah felt something snap. Feeling an overwhelming sense of rage. But in that rage, his breathing became more refined. His movements became more fluid. He felt, free.
The first man charged at him, speaking to him. But Josiah heard nothing. When the downwards swing came Josiah only sidestepped and pierced his sword through the man's throat. Leaving him choking on his own blood.
1
The second man came with a third. One holding a spear, the other a dagger. The spear man went for his heart with a thrust.
Josiah simply parried his spear, but before he could counter attack the man with the dagger went for his side. Twisting his body he only got cut bringing his hilt down he hit the man in the temple knocking him unconscious.
As the spear man went for another thrust, Josiah stepped inward past the point and slashed through the man's neck.
2
Turning back, he saw the unconscious man on the floor. Looking at him he only seemed to be in his late teens. Not much older than Josiah himself. It didn't stop him from plunging his sword through his heart however.
3
As Josiah turned back around a man with a two handed axe swung at him. Ducking under the swing Josiah sliced upwards through the man's lead hand causing him to scream. The man's axe dropped to the floor, and in the next moment as did his head.
4
One after another, the group fell. Josiah coming out on top each time. Suffering little to no injuries while fighting. Until the only people standing was Josiah, and the leader.
"Well, that's unfortunate. I was really hoping the rumors weren't true." The man said. "King Josiah Indrake, son of the Sword Saint Miriel, and the Divine General Joseph. Truly a little monster aren't you?"
The man sheathed his weapons and raised his hands.
"Tell you what, I'll give you a tip. And you let me leave."
Josiah readied his stance, holding his sword before him. Watching the man's moves very carefully. Seeing as he was no longer a threat he stopped about 5 feet away and nodded his head for the man to continue.
"Great! Introductions are in order no? I'm Jack. Seeing how I now owe you my life, allow me to tell you who ordered your loved ones death."
Jack dramatically paused in the middle, much to Josiah's annoyance. He planned on killing him right after he finished speaking. But right as he went to close the distance he heard the crone in his ear.
"Spare the boy today. And he will be useful to you in the future."
Quickly turning around and swinging his blade, Josiah only cut through air. But his sudden movement caused Jack to jump back.
"Woah okay! I get it, I'll stop with the theatrics. It was Duke Thalorin. The deal was kill you both and we get paided. Easy as that. Now the torture thing wasn't my idea. I just arrived last night. Seeing as you already gotten your revenge for that. I'll be taking my leave."
Jack sarcastically bowed forward and walked right past Josiah and out the front door.
Left alone. Silence and the scent of death permeated the room. Josiah though not injured, was exhausted. He hadn't slept in days and though the battle didn't last long he still had fought and killed 11 men by himself.
Stumbling over to Nyx, he gently lifted her into his arms and sat on the ground with her. Tears falling down his face as he screamed. Screamed at the unfairness of this world. Screamed at the gods. Screamed at the world.
And the whispers, screamed back…