Dewsbury Tales - Winifred Winslowe
I am Winifred Winslowe, a female Lera ranger in the city of Dewsbury.
I have short, red hair double braided above a thin, wild face. My round, golden eyes set high within their sockets are sharp and powerful.Fair skin compliments my hair, and I stand short among others, despite my athletic frame.
I grew up in a small village in the woods outside of the city. My brother died when I was young and my parents sent me to the city to live with my uncle, a rangersmith. I am presently twenty-five years old, and I am a dedicated member of the Lera militia. My uncle is a kind, old man who has taught me everything he knows about fighting. He trained me since I was a child and is my best friend.
I live with him in a small house in the woods, and I spend most of my free time either training or reading one of the many books in my uncle's library. My favorite book is "The Legend of Thard" by Gunther Schloossman. I am on good terms with our neighbors, and I enjoy living in the woods.
I am becoming a very skilled warrior. I am proficient in the use of longswords, shortswords, hunting bows, and hand axes. My attacks are strong, and I often wander the forest, practicing my aim. My armor consists of a chain shirt, a steel shield, and a helm. I have just over one hundred gold coins in my possession.
I am loyal to the Kingdom of Lera, and I intend on continuing to serve it for many years to come.
My partner, Tobias, and I have been sent to the village of Edgetown to investigate a string of murders occurring there.
Tobias is a few years older than me with short, brown hair usually falling into his intelligent, green eyes set gracefully within their sockets.
He stands elegantly, despite his hefty frame.
We are currently in the town tavern, and we have been talking to a barmaid there named Sophie.
She has blonde, short hair that hangs over her strong, gloomy face.
Squinting hazel eyes, set sunken within their sockets, watch attentively over the tavern.
Tribal marks resembling a lightning bolt under her left eye mark her half-elf ancestry.
She has mentioned that she knows something about the murders, but she will not tell us anything.
I ask Sophie to tell us the person’s name who owns the inn.
She smiles and tells me that the owner is a man named Gerald.
I write this down on a yellowed piece of parchment so I do not forget it.
She mentions that she has seen a man sneaking around the village at night, and he usually goes into the old house up on the hill.
She says she has never seen him during the day, and she does not know who he is or what he is doing there.
We thank Sophie for the information and tell her that we will try to find out who this man is.
We head outside and decide to go check out the old house that Sophie mentioned.
We walk up the hill and reach the house, which does not look very well kept.
The door is locked, so I try to open it with no success.
We decide to go around back and see if we can look in through a window.
We reach the backyard and try to decide which window we will try to look in through.
We look into one of the windows, but there is nothing inside except old furniture covered with sheets.
When we return to the front of the house again, I try the door and, surprisingly, it is unlocked.
I open it and look inside but do not see anyone in the dark hallway.
We decide to head inside and investigate.
I enter the dark house with my bow at the ready.
After getting through the front door, we do not see anyone in the dark hallway or living room.
We search the ground floor of the house but do not find anyone there.
We decide to head upstairs.
We slowly move up the stairs, one at a time, trying not to make any noise.
When we reach the top of the stairs, we see a man lying in bed next to a woman.
The tall, lean, pale-skinned woman notices us first, and then the short, plump man sits up in bed.
They do not seem at all surprised to see us.
"Hello," the woman says to me. "I am Ophelia. What brings you here?"
"I'm looking for a man who sneaks around at night," I say. "Have you seen him?"
"No, we've not seen anyone like that," Ophelia says. "Are you sure you have the right house?"
"I'm not sure of anything," I say.
Ophelia smiles at me and gets out of bed.
She walks over to me, and I feel compelled against my will to approach her.
She lifts up my faceguard and then kisses me.
I feel warm all over, and I lose control of my body.
Ophelia whispers something in my ear, and I am forced to nod in agreement.
I have no choice in the matter.
"You're a puppet, my dear," Ophelia says. "I control your strings, now."
Ophelia lets go of me, and I feel normal again.
I am horrified by what has just happened.
I look back to where Tobias had been but see nothing.
Then someone grabs me from behind and covers my mouth.
My vision goes black.
I struggle to stay awake, but eventually, I succumb to the darkness and lose consciousness.
When I wake up, I find myself lying on the floor of the tavern.
Tobias is sitting across from me, looking concerned.
"Oh, thank goodness you're awake," he says. "I was worried I'd have to carry you home."
"What... what happened?" I ask.
"You don't remember?" my partner asks. "We went out last night, got drunk, and tried to break into a house. The owner caught us and called the guards, who brought us here. I didn't think you'd wake up."
"We were... drunk?" I ask.
"Yeah, buddy," Tobias says, chuckling. "You need to slow down. You can't keep going on like this."
"I... I'll be fine," I say.
Tobias shakes his head and sighs.
"Look, I'm not going to force you to do anything," my partner says. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but you're not in the best part of town."
I don't say anything else, and Tobias leaves.
I sit in the tavern for a while, trying to make sense of what happened last night.
I try to remember what happened after I entered the house, but I cannot recall anything.
I head to my room in the tavern and fall asleep.
I wake up the next day and find that Tobias has already left.
I spend the day in the tavern, drinking to pass the time.
When night comes, I decide to go out for a walk.
As I leave the tavern, I bump into an average-sized woman with a hooded cloak, carrying a bag on her shoulder.
"Oh, excuse me," the woman says.
"I'm sorry," I say. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
"It's quite alright," the woman says. "I need to get going. Goodbye."
The woman walks away from me, and I notice that she has a strange way of walking.
Her feet don't quite touch the ground, and she glides along.
I've never seen anything like it.
Intrigued, I run after her.
"Hey, wait!" I say. "I need to ask you something."
The woman stops and turns around.
She pulls back her hood, revealing long blond hair and sharp features.
Her eyes are a bright, fiery red.
She looks at me for a moment, then smiles.
"Yes?" she asks.
"What... what are you?" I ask.
The woman's smile disappears.
"That's not a question you should be asking."
"Why not?" I ask.
"It's a personal question," the woman says. "I don't ask you what you are, so don't ask me."
"You don't understand. I saw you walk away from me. Your feet didn't even touch the ground."
The woman sighs, and a look of frustration appears on her face.
"You saw that, huh?" she asks. "Look, I'm late for an appointment. Is there anything else?"
"Who are you?" I ask.
"My name is unimportant," the woman says. "I have to go."
The woman turns away from me again and begins walking away.
"Hey! Wait!" I say.
The woman doesn't listen and quickens her pace.
I run after her, but she is too fast.
Within seconds, she is out of sight.
I sigh and start walking back.
I get back to the tavern and find Tobias there, drinking at the bar.
He looks up at me as I enter.
"I was about to send someone to look for you," he says. "We have a job tonight."
"What is it?" I ask.
"There's a guy we need to kill," he says. "He's a dick."
"That's a little vague..."
"He owns a couple of slave warehouses," my partner says. "We've been planning to kill him for a few weeks now. He also has a habit of stepping out onto his balcony to smoke a pipe, and it's pretty easy to get up there from the backstreets."
I nod, and Tobias finishes his drink.
We head out of the tavern and begin heading towards the man's house.
We reach the house quickly and remain in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
After a few minutes, we see a man wearing fine clothing walking out onto the house’s balcony, lighting a pipe as he walks out.
"That's him," I say. "What's the plan?"
"I think the easiest way to get rid of him without making too much noise may be to use your bow," my partner says. "But we're close enough that we could probably get inside and stab him quickly enough."
I nod, reaching for my bow.
I notched it earlier, and I draw it now.
I aim at the man's chest, taking care to keep my body hidden behind the corner of the building.
I sight along the arrow, then let it fly.
The arrow flies straight, hitting the man in the heart.
He gasps once, then falls over without a sound.
"Let's go," I say.
I turn and quickly move away from the house, heading around the corner and out of sight.
I wait for a moment but hear no alarm raised within the home.
After a few minutes, Tobias emerges from around the corner.
"It's done," he says with a smile.
I nod, and we begin to head back to the tavern to collect our payment.
"Well, that's another one off the list," I say.
"Indeed," my partner says with a smile.
We walk down the street and reach the tavern.
We head inside and find it empty, save for our employer at the bar.
He turns, smiling at us.
"It's done," I say.
The man nods, holding out a hand.
A few coins jingle in his hand as he extends it to me.
I take it, plucking the coins from his hand and counting them.
"It's all here," I say. "Thank you."
"Of course. Thank you for doing such a good job. Consider my problem dealt with."
I nod and put the coins in my pocket.
"We'll head out first thing in the morning," I say to Tobias.
"Alright," he says. "I'll see you then."
I finish my drink, then head to my room for the night.
The following day, my partner and I pack up my things and leave the tavern behind.
We’ve got another job to do.
Tobias and I walk along the street, carrying our packs.
We’re heading to the docks, where a man is hiring rangers for a job.
We’re not sure what it is yet, but the pay is good, so we have decided to see if we can get taken on.
We pass by a few food stalls, then reach the docks.
It's still early, so there aren't too many people around.
A few people mill about here and there, but we see no apparent candidates.
The ships are all sitting still in the water, so we assume they'll be hiring at one of the warehouses.
We head to the largest one and find a man outside, waiting.
"Hail there," he says.
"Hello," I respond. "Are you the one hiring rangers?"
"I am. Are you here to apply?"
"We are."
The man nods, opening the door to the warehouse.
"Come in and let's get this over with," he says.
I raise an eyebrow and look at my partner.
He shrugs, so we head inside.
The man leads us to a desk, where he sits down.
I stand in front of it while Tobias sits in a nearby chair.
"So, I'm going to need your names," he says.
"Winifred," I say.
"Tobias."
The man writes that down, then looks up at me.
"All right, Winifred and... Tobias. I'm going to need some information about you. How long have you been a ranger?"
"I've been a ranger for five years," I say.
"I've been a ranger for seven," my partner responds.
The man nods, writing that down.
"What are your specialties?" he asks.
"I'm an expert hunter," I say.
"I can track nearly anything and anyone," Tobias responds.
The man nods, writing that down.
"Any war experience?" he asks.
"I've served in two wars," I say.
"I've served in many," my partner responds.
"All right, let's see... strengths?" the man asks.
"I'm stealthy as the shadows," I say.
"I'm as quick as a coursing river," Tobias responds.
"I see... any weaknesses?"
"I'm not afraid of the dark, and I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty," I say.
"I'm afraid of water," my partner responds.
The man finishes writing that down, then looks at me.
"Anything else?" he asks.
"Yeah, I have a question," I say. "Do we get the job?"
"I was getting to that," the man says. "You're... different than most of the rangers I've hired before. Most of them are older, have families, have been doing this for decades. You... you're younger. More energetic. More willing to go into the shadows."
"That's a good thing, right?" I ask.
The man sighs, then stands up.
"Yeah. It's a good thing. It's just... I'm not used to it. Here."
He takes us to a cabinet, where he takes out a couple of cloaks and hands them to us.
"These are shadowcloaks. They're what we use down in the tunnels. Keep you hidden, keep you safe. You'll also get a canteen of lantern oil, some tinderboxes, a silver dagger, and a silver shortsword. You'll need to fill your pack up with food before you go down there."
The man takes us over to a table stacked with supplies and has us fill our pack up with food before leading us to another table stacked with weapons.
"These are the weapons we've found to be most effective against the shadows. Silver weapons, of course, but also silver-tipped arrows. We've found that fire is particularly effective against them. Once you're done arming yourself, come back here, and we'll get you on your way."
I look over the weapons, then pick out a few things.
I grab a few silver daggers, a few silver short swords, a silver ax, and a silver spear.
I also pick up ten silver arrows, some with fire heads.
Once we’ve armed ourselves to our liking, We head back to the man.
"Very good," he says. "Now, you're going to the tunnel system below Dewsbury. It's a fairly straightforward journey, just straight down. I don't expect you'll run into too much trouble. The Ghouls should be hibernating for the winter now, and the shadows mostly stay in the upper parts of the city around the temple. Just stay on your guard, and you'll be fine. This map will show you the way to the tunnel that will take you straight to the temple. You'll be able to navigate the rest of the tunnels with no problems, I'm sure. Best of luck, rangers. I hope you return victorious."
He hands me the map, and I carefully put it in my pack.
"What do we call you?" I ask.
"Oh, yes. My apologies. I'm Captain Darruk," he says, extending his hand.
I grab it, and he shakes it firmly.
"Pleasure to meet you," he says.
"Likewise, Captain," I respond.
"All right. You're ready to go. Good luck. I'll be here waiting."
I nod, and we head outside.
"Let's do this," Tobias says.
"Let's do it," I say.
We walk to the edge of town, where a few buildings have been destroyed by the shadows.
We look at them, then begin to head off into the woods.
"Where are we going?" my partner asks.
"The shadows come from the temple. So we need to travel through the underground tunnel system to get there," I say.
"There's an underground tunnel system?"
"Yeah. The city used to have proper sewers, but they became useless as the city grew and abandoned. But the shadows repurposed them. We're going to have to go down there, so we need to go to the nearest entrance."
We walk along the edge of the woods, looking for the entrance.
Soon enough, we find a simple brick wall with an old iron gate leading to the sewers.
We quickly don our cloaks before opening the gate and, walking through, find ourselves in darkness.
I feel my way forward, walking down the old stone steps until we reach the damp, mossy brick floor.
We light a torch and continue on.
I walk along, followed by Tobias.
"Do you know the way?" he asks.
"I do," I say.
We walk on for quite a while.
The tunnel twists and turns, and I begin to feel like we're lost in a maze.
"How much further?" my partner asks.
"I don't know," I admit. "I've never had to walk this route to the temple."
Suddenly, I hear a howl.
I stop in my tracks, and Tobias bumps into me.
"What was that?" he asks nervously.
I listen closely.
"There!" I say as I hear the howl again.
I see a pair of bright, blood-red eyes staring at us from the shadows.
I raise my crossbow, aim, and fire.
The werewolf lets out a whimper as it is hit by the bolt, but then it charges at us.
I notch another arrow before firing another arrow at the creature.
It hits the werewolf in its side, but it doesn't seem to slow it down.
It leaps forward, knocking my partner to the ground.
I fire another arrow at it, hitting it in the side of the head this time and killing it.
It falls to the ground, next to Tobias.
"Are you alright?" I ask.
"Y-yes," he stutters, his voice shaking.
"We need to keep moving. It's not safe here."
We walk quickly along the tunnel until we come across another staircase.
We walk up to it and find ourselves in a tunnel that branches off into three paths.
I look at the map, then begin walking down the middle path.
We walk along for quite a while until we begin to hear howls once again.
We stop and listen carefully, trying to pinpoint the direction.
"Where is it?" my partner asks.
"Shh," I say.
We hear the howl again, but this time we can tell it's coming from up ahead.
I draw my sword and begin to run towards the noise.
Suddenly, we see them.
Two werewolves appear in front of us, barring our path.
I strike out at them, but they simply dodge out of the way of my blade.
I growl and swing again, but once again, I simply miss.
One of the creatures grabs me by the arm and flings me against the wall.
I drop my sword as I hit the ground with a painful thud, and the werewolves begin to circle around me.
I reach for my sword, but the creatures pounce.
One of them lands on me, sitting on my chest, and it growls.
Tobias watches, paralyzed with fear.
"Do something!" I shout at him.
He reaches for his sword and raises it, bringing it down into the creature’s skull.
The blade digs into the werewolf as blood flows from the large gash.
I reach for my dagger and plunge it into the second werewolf's side.
It yelps and leaps off of me.
It shakes off the pain and snarls before turning to me and jumping forward.
I find my sword and swing it, the blade slashing through the werewolf's neck and killing it instantly.
The creature falls to the ground, dead.
I stand and draw another arrow.
I raise my crossbow, aiming at the leader of the pack.
I fire, hitting it in the shoulder.
It lets out a whimper and collapses backward.
I hear more howls down the tunnel, and I turn to see five more werewolves appear.
The other four leap forward, and we find ourselves surrounded.
My partner charges at them, swinging his sword wildly.
He cuts down one of the werewolves and is immediately set upon by the others.
I try to shoot them, but they are moving too quickly.
I am filled with adrenaline and rage as I see Tobias being torn apart.
One of the werewolves leaps forward and bites down on my arm.
I try to shake it off, but its jaws are locked on.
I drop my weapons and begin to scream as the werewolf begins to tear into my flesh.
It bites down harder, and I start to blackout.
I awaken an unknown time later in a bed.
I find bandages wrapped around my chest and a cast covering my left arm.
I groan as I sit up, and a woman enters the room.
"Ah, you're awake," she says.
"What happened? Where am I?" I ask.
"You're in the medical ward of Dewsbury castle. You were brought here by some of King Alistair's men."
"What happened to my partner?" I ask.
"I'm sorry, the werewolves tore him apart. They disposed of the body, so there wasn't a chance for a proper burial."
"Fuck," I say.
"I'm sorry. But you're alive, and that's what matters."
I nod, and the woman leaves.
I sigh and lie back in bed.
I wonder why the King's men saved me and how they knew I was in trouble.
I wonder if they are watching me and how they will use me.
I also wonder what will become of me now.
I don't feel like a ranger anymore.
I feel as though I lost my desire to be one after what happened.
The thrill of the hunt and the freedom of the wilds is gone.
In its place is a feeling of paranoia, fear, and dread.
I’m not really sure if I want to continue as a ranger anymore.
I have a lot to think about.
At that moment, the leader of the King's Guard enters.
He's a tall, well-muscled man with dark skin and dark hair.
His name is Captain Roldan, and he's one of the most respected men in the city.
His wavy brown hair sits atop a handsome, time-worn face above a strong frame.
Kind, inquisitive, green eyes look thoughtfully at me as I sit up.
"Ah, you're awake. Good," Captain Roldan says. "We need to talk."
I nod, and he takes a seat in the chair beside my bed.
"So, what do you want to do?" he asks.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"I mean, what do you want to do? Do you want to stay here at the castle and have a medical leave for as long as you need? Do you want to go back out to the woods and resume your work as a ranger? Do you want to join the King's Guard? We could use someone like you. Training would be hard, but I think you could handle it. Your combat skills are excellent, and your tracking abilities are second to none. You'd be of great use to us."
"I don't know," I say. "I need time to think."
"Of course," Captain Roldan says. "Take all the time you need. The King is busy with the annual War Games, but I want you to come and speak with him when they’re over. He wants to see you."
"Why?" I ask.
"He just wants to talk. He'll explain it all to you. But for now, take all the time you need to think things over. You've been through a lot. Just know that you have a place here, whether you want to be a ranger or something else. The King respects those who can fight, but he respects those who think even more. You can use your time here to do both. I'll make sure you're not disturbed.”
"Wait," I say. "I do have a question."
"Go on," Captain Roldan says.
"How did you know where to find me?" I ask.
Captain Roldan smiles, and for the first time, I see a hint of warmth in him.
"I've known where to find you ever since you arrived in this city. We've got your friend to thank for that."
"My friend?" I ask.
"Yes. He came to us a few months ago, saying that you had great potential. He said he'd been training you for many years, and you had become quite proficient in a multitude of weapons as well as scouting. In any case, he gave us your description and told us where he thought you might have gone."
I sit and think for a moment.
I am confident this "friend" was my uncle.
He must have had a good reason for not revealing this to me.
"Is there anything else?" Captain Roldan asks.
"No," I say.
"Good," Captain Roldan says. "Then I'll see you in a few days."
Captain Roldan walks out the door, leaving me alone in my room.
I’m unsure of what to think right now.
All I know is that I’m tired.
Deciding that it's best to think about this later, I lie in my bed and fall asleep.
I awake the following day, lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling.
I sit up, realizing that I feel much better than I did the night before.
After getting myself ready, I exit my room and head to the castle's dining hall.
Along the way, I bump into a young man with curly brown hair wearing a dark blue tunic.
He has quite a long, sad face, bright hazel eyes, and a slim frame.
Three scars reach from the bottom of his left cheekbone, running towards thin lips and end on his right cheekbone.
"Hello," he says. "You're the new recruit, right?"
"Yeah," I say. "I'm guessing you're another one?"
"Yep, my name's Jaime."
I nod.
"I don't think I've seen you around before," Jaime says.
"I just got here yesterday," I say. "I'm from a small village in the woods."
"Really? I'm from the city. Well, actually a town in the country, but it's still better than a village."
I nod, not really caring.
"So, you wanna be friends?" he asks.
I shrug.
"Sure, I guess," I say.
"Great! Oh, I forgot to ask, what's your name?"
"You can call me Winn."
"Like the king?"
I nod.
"I'm sure we'll be great friends."
I nod, and we head to the dining hall.
As I eat my breakfast, I can't help feeling nervous about my meeting with King Alistair.
"Something wrong?"
I turn to see a girl my age with long, curly red hair and freckles across her nose.
The girl has a thin, lively face with hazel eyes and a delicate frame.
"Nope," I say.
"You sure? You don't look so good."
"I'm fine," I say.
"Suit yourself," she says, turning to leave.
"I'm fine," I say, stopping her. "I'm just nervous about my first day."
"Oh, that's all. I'm Juliana, by the way."
"I'm Winn."
"Like the king?" she asks.
I nod.
"I'm sure we'll be great friends," she says, mimicking what Jaime told me earlier.
"I'm sure we will," I say.
As we converse, I forget about my worries.
Soon, it's time to meet with the King.
I head to the throne room.
I enter the throne room, where King Alistair sits on his throne.
The king has long, white hair pulled back to reveal an angular, charming face.
Woeful blue eyes study me as I approach.
He has a scar under the right eyebrow and has a slightly large frame.
Beside him stands Captain Roldan, who looks at me and smiles.
"Ah, the last member of the team. I'm glad to see you here. What's your name, child?" King Alistair asks.
"W-Winifred, Your Majesty," I say nervously.
"I'm sure you'll do great things, Winifred."
I nod nervously.
Captain Roldan approaches me.
"I'll take you to where you'll be staying. From now on, you'll be under my command. I'll be training you."
I nod.
"Let's go, kid," Captain Roldan says.
I follow Captain Roldan out of the throne room.
I soon find myself in a small room with several other soldiers.
I spot Jaime and Juliana to one side.
"You'll be living here in the barracks until further notice."
"Yes, captain," I say.
Captain Roldan nods.
"Dismissed," he says.
I turn and walk away, entering the barracks.
"So, you're the last one here. The rest of us have already been assigned to a team," Juliana says.
"Yeah, I just met with the captain," I say.
"Great, so which team are you on?"
I hesitate.
"I'm not sure," I admit.
"What?!" Juliana asks.
"He said I was under his command, and I would be trained by him."
"He's going to be training you alone?"
I nod.
"That's not right! I'm sure he can't just get away with that! We're supposed to be a team!"
"I don't think he's doing this against his will."
"Well, we're going to talk to him about this!"
I raise my hands.
"I'm not getting involved," I say.
"Coward," Juliana says.
"Let's go," Jaime says, standing up.
The two of them leave the barracks, leaving me alone.
I lie down on my bed and close my eyes.
I awake sometime later to someone shaking my shoulder.
I open my eyes and see that it's dark outside.
"Wake up, kid. We need to talk."
I look around and see Captain Roldan standing above me.
"What's going on?" I ask.
"We need to talk. Get up."
I stand and follow Captain Roldan out of the barracks.
I find myself in a small garden outside, with flowers and trees and a small stream running through it.
There is a wooden table and two chairs in the middle of the garden, with a figure sitting there.
As we approach, I begin to make out who this mysterious figure is.
"Uncle?" I ask.
"Hello, Winifred," he replies.
I stop and stare at him in shock.
My uncle is a muscular man though he is getting on in years.
Silver, long hair hangs over his bony face.
Set high within their sockets, gentle gray eyes look fondly over me as I approach the table.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"Sit down, kid," my uncle says. "I'll explain everything."
I take a seat, and my uncle begins to explain.
"As I'm sure your captain has told you, you're not on a team. You're to be trained alone by the Royal Guard's finest Captain."
"What? But, why?" I ask.
"You need to get stronger. Real training, not just the basics. They're going to make you into a warrior."
"But, I am a warrior!" I protest.
My uncle shakes his head.
"No, you're not. Not yet. I should know."
I frown, and my uncle sighs.
"I was in the Royal Guard once. I trained with them for years, but I was never good enough to be accepted as one of them. They're the best of the best, trained from childhood to be warriors."
"I was trained from childhood!" I protest.
"Yes, but not to be a Royal Guard. You were trained to be a common ranger. There's a difference. A big one."
"So... what? I have to train for five more years? Ten more years?"
"No. You're going to train until you're good enough."
I stare at him in shock.
"How long is that?" I ask.
He stares at me for a few seconds, then sighs.
"I don't know," he admits. "Could be another five years. It could be ten. Could be longer."
"You're joking."
Captain Roldan clears his throat.
"I'm afraid he's not, kid," he says. "You have potential, but you lack the proper training and skill to back it up."
I stare at the two men in shock.
"So... what? I just live here and train alone until I'm good enough? Good enough for what?" I ask.
"Good enough to pass the tests. When you pass the tests, you'll be accepted into the Royal Guard, and you'll serve in Fort Virtue. We believe you have a very bright future ahead of you as a leader in the Guard," Captain Roldan says.
"But, I don't want to be a leader! I just want to be a ranger, like my uncle and my father!"
"I'm sorry, but the decision's been made. You'll have to train until you're good enough," my uncle responds.
I stare at him in shock, not knowing what to say.
Finally, I stand.
"Fine," I say. "When do I start?"
"Now," Captain Roldan says. "I'll be training you personally."
"What about my other classes?" I ask.
"You won't be attending those. Your only focus now is to pass the tests and become a member of the Royal Guard."
"But, what about the other recruits?" I ask. "I was starting to make friends."
"You'll still be able to see them, but only when you're not training. In the morning, we have a lot to do. Let's get you back to the barracks."
The following morning, I put on my gear and meet Captain Roldan outside.
"I'll take you to where we'll be training. It's an old training area the Royal Guard used before they built the new one. It's been abandoned for years, so it's the perfect place to train without being disturbed."
We walk for about fifteen minutes before we reach the training area.
It's a large field surrounded by trees.
In the middle, there's a target and a wooden table with several weapons on it.
"This is it?" I ask. "It's just a field."
"It's more than enough. Now, we'll start with some training. Pick up on a weapon."
I look at the table and pick up a sword.
As soon as I do, I hear a loud metal clank behind me.
I quickly turn around to see Captain Roldan there, holding a sword of his own.
He points it at me, and I raise my own to defend myself.
"Good. You're quick on your feet. We'll make sure those reflexes are sharp when it really counts, too."
The Captain and I begin to circle each other, each of us looking for an opening to attack.
"Now, as I said, you'll be training here until I'm satisfied you're fit to join the Royal Guard. You will address me as Captain Roldan, or sir. Now, attack me. Show me what you've got."
I take a deep breath and lunge at the Captain.
He easily dodges my slash and hits me upside the head with the pommel of his sword, knocking me to the ground.
"First lesson: you're going to get hurt. A lot. You need to harden yourself to pain if you want to be a warrior. Get up. You're not done until I say you're done."
I stand and prepare for another attack.
"I'm ready, sir!"
For the next few hours, I fight the Captain again and again.
He beats me every time but never hurts me too severely.
By the end of it, I’ve grown tired of fighting.
"I don't want to do this anymore," I say. "I don't want to be a warrior."
"It's too late for that, soldier. You just need to accept that. Now, pick up your weapon, and get ready to fight!"
I’m too tired to argue.
I just obey Captain Roldan’s orders.
The next few weeks of training are very similar.
I’ll fight the Captain, lose, then be too tired to do anything but eat and sleep.
It's a grueling process, but I know it'll make me a stronger warrior.
After a month of training, I’ve finally grown to like the fighting.
It's still hard for me, but I’m a lot better than I used to be.
Captain Roldan is proud of how much I’ve improved and says I’m ready to take the next step in my training.
"Now that you've got the basics down, it's time to teach you how to be a real warrior. We're going to be doing a lot of traveling, so pack only what you need. You won't be coming back here until your training is done."
"What about the final test?" I ask. "When do I get to fight for my place in the Royal Guard?"
"It's not quite time for that yet," Captain Roldan says. "But don't worry, you'll have your chance to prove yourself. We're going to the town of Arcanius. It's about a two-week walk from here. We'll be passing through the city of Ashton on the way, but we won't stop. Once we get to Arcanius, we're going to hunt down and kill the werewolves that have been terrorizing the region. After that, well, we'll see."
I look at him in shock.
"Werewolves?" I say, remembering the brutal attack on me and the death of my partner, Tobias.
"Yes," Captain Roldan says. "Now pack up your things, and meet me outside when you're finished."
The captain leaves, leaving me to my own devices.
I wonder if I’ve gotten myself into something I’m going to regret.
"Nothing to do about it now," I say as I quickly pack for the trip.
Once I finish packing, I head outside to find Captain Roldan.
He's standing out in the courtyard, looking impatient.
"About time," he says. "Let's go."
I follow the Captain outside the city gates and onto the road.
"Keep up," he says as he begins walking.
I quickly catch up with him and fall into step.
For the next few days, we travel like this, not saying much to each other.
I’m unsure what to say to him, and he doesn't seem like the type to go for small talk.
On the third night, I finally decide to break the silence.
"How did you become a captain?" I ask. "I mean, what did you do?"
He looks at me for a few seconds as if trying to decide if he's going to answer or not.
Finally, he speaks.
"I killed the former captain and most of his guards," he says.
I look at him, shocked.
He seems to notice this and laughs.
"Oh, I'm only joking," He laughs. "I actually took the king hunting, and he liked the way I hunted, so he gave me a position as a captain. It's really that simple."
"Oh," I say. "That's it?"
"Yes, that's it," he says. "Think less of me for it."
I shrug. "I don't judge."
He looks at me, surprised.
"Not many your age would say that."
I shrug again.
Days later, the town of Arcanius comes into sight.
"Well, we're here," Captain Roldan says. "Let's get to work."
Over the next few days, I and the captain hunt down the werewolves of Arcanius.
It's not as hard as I thought it would be.
The werewolves are incredibly territorial and make no effort to hide their kills or attacks.
All we have to do is follow the fresh blood and howls.
By the time a week has passed, all the werewolves have either been killed or run off.
It’s safe to say that the people of Arcanius are grateful for our actions.
The mayor offers us money, which we graciously decline.
He then offers us a job, which we also decline.
He insists, saying the offer is good anytime we want it.
We thank him and tell him we’ll keep it in mind.
"Well, that was easier than expected," Captain Roldan says. "I'd say we did a good job."
"We?" I ask. "I did all the fighting and killing. You just watched."
"I had to make sure you were doing it right," he says. "I'm still your superior, after all."
"I thought the mayor was," I say, with a smirk.
He laughs.
"I have a feeling we'll be doing more jobs like this one. You ready to go?"
I nod and begin the walk back to Dewsbury.
We arrive back in Dewsbury after a few days, and I retire to the barracks.
As I rest up in the barracks, the Captain enters.
"We did a good job in Arcanius," he says. "I've already been asked to take care of another problem. This time, it's a pack of trolls that have been attacking caravans on the road. The king wants them gone. I'm going to need your help again."
"What about my final tests to officially become a part of the Royal Guard?" I ask.
"I think you've more than proven yourself," the Captain says. "If you want to become a full member of the guard, you'll need to undergo a few more tests, but I'd say you've passed with flying colors."
"Then I'm ready to go now," I say.
"Now?" the Captain asks, surprised. "We've only just returned. Don't you want to rest first?"
"I'm ready to go now," I say confidently.
The Captain laughs.
"Alright then. I'll have the king send out a message. We'll be leaving tomorrow. Get some rest, soldier. You're going to need it."
The following day, I find myself on the road, walking next to Captain Roldan.
A few days pass, and we don't see any sign of trolls.
"Have you ever fought trolls before?" I ask the Captain.
"I have fought many things before," the Captain replies vaguely. "You'll learn more about me when we stop for the night."
We camp out on the road; as the Captain cooks a small hare he shot with his bow.
I’ve never seen anyone move as quickly as he did to shoot the hare before it could escape.
"I suppose you're wondering why I joined the Royal Guard," the Captain says as he begins to skin the hare.
"I was actually going to ask you about that," I say.
"I had a lot of reasons," the Captain says. "The main one, though, was that I wanted to make the world a better place. When I was young, there was a lot of fighting going on. It was awful. But, when the king took power and unified the country, things got better. I wanted to do my part to keep making it better."
"That's a... noble goal," I say.
"I see you're surprised," the Captain says, smiling. "Most people are. They think I'm some heartless bastard who kills without reason. Truth is, I kill only to protect others. It's what I'm good at, and it keeps food on the table."
I laugh.
"I'd say so."
"But enough about me," the Captain says. "Your turn to tell me about yourself."
I spend the rest of the night talking to the Captain, and I find that I’ve never felt more comfortable around someone else.
The next day, we arrive at the outskirts of a small village.
We see a group of soldiers standing around, waiting for us.
"Greetings, Captain," one says as we arrive.
"Lieutenant Stravid," the Captain nods. "Have there been any problems?"
Lieutenant Stravid is a large man with black, straight hair neatly styled and hooded green eyes buried within their sockets.
"None at all, sir."
"You've positioned guards around the village?"
"Yes, sir. Every entrance into the village has at least two guards stationed there."
"Good. That will be all."
The Lieutenant nods before walking back to the village.
"Right," the Captain says. "Let's go find this troll's lair."
We enter the village and begin to search for the troll's lair.
After asking a few villagers, we find out that it's located in an old well.
We head towards it.
"It's probably a good idea for some of us to stay above ground," I say. "In case the troll tries to escape."
"I'll stay up here. I'm not exactly the most agile person," Brogma says.
"I'll stay up here as well," Eldolith says.
"Good," the Captain says. "Makes our job a lot easier."
We head down into the well and begin to search through the tunnels.
It doesn't take long for us to find the troll's lair.
The stench of blood and rotten meat hits my nostrils, and we see a massive cave covered in drying strips of meat.
We also see several half-eaten corpses strewn about the lair.
"Let's get this done quickly," the Captain says, wielding his sword.
I nod and enter the lair.
I step over a corpse and see the troll sitting in a pile of rocks.
The creature is massive, far more giant than I expected.
It has many warts all over its face and big teeth, all of which are dripping with saliva.
"Greetings, travelers," the troll grunts. "Travelling into a rather dangerous territory, are you not?"
"We're here to kill you, troll," the Captain says, readying his sword.
The troll lets out a laugh, which is deep and guttural.
The laughter is so loud and booming that I feel it more than I hear it.
I feel my legs weaken as the laugh causes them to shake uncontrollably.
"I don't think you'll be able to do that," the troll says.
"We'll see about that," Captain Roldan says.
The Captain charges forward, ducking under a swing from the troll's club.
He drives his sword into the creature's side.
It slows the troll down but not for long.
It swings its club, smacking the Captain into the wall.
He drops to the ground.
The rest of us charge forward, engaging the troll.
It swings its club, knocking Harding, a soldier with a lean frame, into the wall as well.
It tries to follow up with a stomp, but I block its leg, tripping the beast.
I stab it in the foot, causing it to roar in pain.
It falls to the ground, allowing me to plunge my sword into its neck and finishing it off.
The troll slumps down, dead, as I catch my breath.
"Is everyone alright?" I ask.
"Just… just a little tired," the Captain says, panting.
I nod, sheathing my sword.
"We should get back up top," I say.
I help the Captain up and head back up the well.
When we emerge from the well, we see another group of soldiers.
They're all humans, wearing chainmail and plate armor.
The one in front, who is bald and has a long white beard, steps forward.
"I see you've slain the beast. Good work," he says. "I am Captain Ian of the First Cadians."
"Captain Ian, nice to make your acquaintance," the Captain asks.
"You as well. You are?"
"Captain Roldan of the Second Cavalry."
"I see. You're a long way from home, Captain."
"So are you," the Captain says.
The Captain looks at Ian, then nods.
"So we are."
"Now, to business. We're here on a hunt of our own. A wyvern has been terrorizing the area, attacking the villages and towns. We need to hunt it down and kill it."
"We saw no wyvern in our travels," I say.
"No, you wouldn't have. It's a rare beast. We've been tracking it for days. It's what brought us here in the first place."
"How do you know it hasn't moved on?"
"We don't. But we must try to kill it whenever possible."
"What's it look like?" I ask.
"It's about the size of an elephant and has a long tail with a spike at the end. It has black scales and wings and is more reptilian in nature than the common dragon."
"I've never seen a creature like that," I say.
"Neither have I," Captain Roldan says."Alright. We'll help you hunt this creature, but after that, we need to head back home."
"Of course. Thank you," Ian says.
"Let's get going," the Captain says.
We’re soon on the path to the nearest village, which is fortunately not too far away.
"We were tracking the wyvern to another village," Ian says. "It's likely still there."
We walk on in silence, eventually reaching the village.
It's in ruins, with several broken and burnt-out buildings.
There's no one around.
We enter the village and begin to walk through the town.
"Hello?" I call.
My voice echoes off the buildings, but there is no response.
"Where is everyone?" Gwen, a female soldier with sleek black hair and a solid frame, asks.
Suddenly, a woman runs out from one of the alleyways between buildings, rushing towards me.
She's covered in ash and soot and seems to be in shock.
"Are you the army?" she asks.
"We're some of the armies. What's happened here?"
"The wyvern," the woman says. "It came in the middle of the night and just started setting the village on fire. We tried to fight it, but most of us were...were killed."
"Where is this wyvern now?" Captain Roldan asks.
"I don't know! I ran, and it didn't see me. I think it's still in the village."
"We need to get our bearings and organize a plan of action, people," Ian says.
I nod and head into one of the more significant buildings in the center of the village with Ian, Gwen, Captain Roldan, and a few of the soldiers.
We find a spot of relative safety and sit down to discuss our next move.
"We need to kill the beast before it can leave the village and attack again," Ian says.
"We need to find the beast first," I say.
"I have an idea about that. Give me a minute."
Ian stands up and walks outside.
I turn to Gwen.
"Gwen, what do you think we should do?"
"I don't know. This is a big monster. We need to be careful."
Ian comes back into the room.
"Okay, I've assigned some soldiers on the perimeter. Hopefully, that will let us take it down."
"That's a good idea," I say.
"So, what do we do?" Gwen asks.
"We need to kill the beast. I'll get some of the soldiers, and we'll try to draw it out. You two try to sneak around and get into a good position to take the beast down."
I look at Gwen, who nods.
"Let's do it," she says.
I stand up and head outside.
With his broad shoulders and curly blonde hair, we find Sergeant Kiel standing near a group of soldiers.
"Sergeant, we need to draw the wyvern out. Try to get around and behind it. When you get in position, light these torches."
"Sounds like a plan," Sergeant Kiel says.
I hand him the torches, and we sneak off into the village.
We move quickly but carefully, trying not to make too much noise.
After a few minutes, we manage to get behind the wyvern.
We set the torches down and distribute them to the other soldiers.
"Ready?" I ask.
The soldiers nod.
I light my torch, and the soldiers do likewise.
Then, we step out and around the corner, revealing ourselves to the wyvern.
The wyvern roars and takes to the air.
It sees us and begins to move towards us.
"Charge!" I shout.
We all run towards the wyvern, torches in hand.
The wyvern flies towards us, blasting fire at us.
We try to get out of the way, but one soldier's arm is burnt anyway.
"Go on without me!" he shouts as we continue running.
The wyvern lands in front of us and swings its tail, knocking us into buildings.
I hit the wall of a house and fall to the ground.
"Shit...!" I moan, standing back up.
The wyvern continues to breathe fire at me, but I manage to avoid it.
I see Ian run up and stab the wyvern in the wing with his sword, but the blade just bounces off.
The wyvern roars, blowing Ian away with its wings.
Gwen fires an arrow at the wyvern, but it does nothing.
I begin running towards the wyvern.
I reach the wyvern just as it's about to blow a fireball at Gwen.
I swing my sword, hitting the wyvern's underbelly.
My blade cuts through the soft flesh, releasing the wyvern's intestines.
The wyvern screeches and collapses onto the ground.
I pull my sword out of the wyvern and stab the creature in the head, killing it.
I drop to my knees, exhausted.
I’m about to congratulate myself on the kill when I hear a roar.
We look up and see another wyvern flying towards us, this one much larger than the first.
It roars and swoops down at me, knocking me over with its wings.
"I thought there was only one!" I shout.
I roll out of the way as the wyvern's tail comes down, smashing through the wooden houses of the village.
The wyvern swings its tail again, hitting another house and destroying it.
I look around for my sword, but I don't see it anywhere.
I look up just in time to see the wyvern's mouth coming straight for me.
Captain Roldan runs at the creature and stabs it in the gut, but the wyvern knocks him away with its wing.
The wyvern's teeth sink into my shoulder, and I scream out in pain.
The wyvern flings me against a wall, and I bounce off and hit the ground.
I’m dazed, and I can't move.
The wyvern's head looms above me, its jaws open and ready to bite down on my head and crush my skull.
"No..." Gwen says.
The wyvern's head explodes.
I see Gwen with a bow in her hands.
She looks horrified at what she's done.
The wyvern's body falls on top of me, its blood leaking onto my face.
"Bravo, Gwen! You've killed the beast!" Captain Ian says. "Well done!"
I see that I’m bleeding from my shoulder and my head.
I’m sure I’m going to survive, and Captain Ian pulls me out.
I stand up, my shoulder bleeding heavily.
I’m dizzy and weak, but I manage to stay standing.
"You did it!" Ian says. "You killed the wyvern!"
Gwen looks at me, her face pale.
"I'm sorry," she says.
"It's fine," I say. "It was kill or be killed."
I walk away from the scene and head back to Dewsbury with Captain Roldan.
I’m taken into the medical ward in Dewsbury Castle, where I stay for a few weeks.
I recover from my wounds, but I’m left with a large scar on my shoulder.
We’re praised as heroes by many people, and Captain Roldan and I receive medals.
King Alistair himself comes to visit me in the hospital.
"Hello, Winifred," he says with a kind smile. "I've come to give you this medal for your service to the kingdom."
"I was just doing my job, your highness," I say.
"Still, it was courageous. You killed a wyvern! Not many can say they've done that."
"It was the least I could do."
"Hm. I heard about what happened with Gwen."
"It's fine, your highness. It was an accident."
"You've defended the kingdom, and that's what really matters."
The king leaves, and I lay down before drifting to sleep.
I stand in the training yard with my fellow guardsmen, waiting for our captain.
Captain Roldan approaches the group.
I’m finally part of the Royal Guard, the elite fighting force of the kingdom of Dewsbury.
"All right, everyone!" Captain Roldan says. "We have a critical task. We need to find and kill the beast that's been terrorizing the villages nearby. I need the best men for this job, so that's all of you. We're leaving now."
We mount up and ride out of Dewsbury.
We’re on our way to hunt down a beast.
"I heard it was a wyvern," Juliana says.
"I heard it was a manticore!" Hans, a fellow soldier with thick black hair, says.
"I hope it’s a dragon," Jaime says. "I hear their lairs are filled with treasure!"
We all laugh, but Captain Roldan stares at us all sternly.
"This is no laughing matter," he says. "This beast has killed dozens of people. This is our chance to prove ourselves and take it down."
We ride on in silence after that.
Eventually, we spot a large cave.
"This is it," Captain Roldan says. "Everyone, arm yourselves."
We all enter the cave, weapons drawn.
We walk inside, but we find the cave is dark and empty.
"It was probably just a regular wolf," I say.
"Maybe," Captain Roldan says. "Keep alert, everyone."
We walk deeper into the cave but find nothing there at all.
"I told you," I say.
Suddenly, we hear a growl.
We turn to see a large, black wolf, much larger than any I’ve seen before.
Its eyes glow red, and it stares at us hungrily.
"There!" Hans shouts, pointing his sword at the creature.
We all begin to ready our weapons when the wolf charges towards me.
I raise my sword to strike, but the creature is faster, leaping forward and knocking me to the ground.
It bites down on my arm and tears at it before moving on to one of the other guards.
I scream as blood pours from my arm, the pain too much for me to handle.
The other guards are doing a better job fending off the beast, but its strength and speed are overwhelming.
I close my eyes, waiting for the creature to finish me off and release me from this pain.
I hear a loud roar, and I open my eyes and see that the other guards have killed the creature.
It's dead on the ground, blood staining its black fur.
"Is everyone alright?" Captain Roldan asks.
"Yes," I reply, despite my mangled arm. "I'm wounded."
"We need to get that treated. Hans, Juliana, carry her back to Dewsbury."
I’m carried back to the city, and my wound is bandaged.
I rest for a few days, healing from my injuries.
Eventually, I’m back on my feet and ready to serve the kingdom once again.
The next few weeks are hard.
My arm hurts whenever I do something, and my sparring is poor as a result.
Captain Roldan says I should take the time to heal up, but I refuse.
I need to get back into fighting shape as soon as I can.
When I’m finally back to full strength, I join another hunting party and set off into the wilderness again.
Over the following years, I’m sent to fight goblins, trolls, minotaurs, and more.
I’m sent to retrieve runaway prisoners and bring them back to justice.
I’m sent to find valuable resources and exploit them for the good of the kingdom.
I’m sent to do anything that needs to be done to make the kingdom a better place for everyone.
I find myself thrust into many dangerous and deadly situations, and I do whatever is required of me to ensure the safety and well-being of myself and my comrades.
I rise up the ranks and become a leader that people respect and look up to.
I serve the kingdom with distinction for many years until I’m sent out on a mission one day, and I don't return.
But that's another story...
Comments
Post a Comment