The Year of the Sun was going into its last chapter, Autumn was in full, the orange and yellow leaves coating the paths through Collias, and I would for the first time take the life of another.

As I walked the perimeter of our town, I took a look at the fences, and I kept a watchful eye on the edge of the forest. The underbrush and leaves could hide many a creature or even men.

Such is the nature of the dreadful Sun-Year, with the draught come the hungry, and from the hungry come the daring, and the daring make ready to take what they can. Until then this cycle we had no trouble with banditry, but the colder the weather, the closer the snow the more cautious I had to be.

As Robs always told me I had great instincts, so I had let myself be guided by my gut.

For the week prior I had been having a bad premonition, bandits would come of that I was sure and since then I had been hard at work to find signs of their predestined coming. My father had told me once that every time such years occurred evil men would come for Collias, there was no doubt in my mind that the longer they wait the more prepared we had to be.

And there it was, a rustle only heard by my ears but not seen by my eyes, yet I could locate what had moved with ease. My mind ready for that event, my body ignored the reflex to charge at the threat. Had I acted then and there I had no one to follow, and had made their attack certain. They want to take our food, our clothes, our fire and maybe they would even want for women. As long as I was there no one and my spouse all the less would ever fear these bastards, I would make sure of that.

I enter the warehouse, Lord Robs asked the townsfolk to pool together for the coming cold, and together would distribute food for those in need of it. Helinia and I were in a privileged position, she pregnant and I as protector of them had been granted more rations so we would stay strong for the good of the many, so the people decided, I was grateful, and I could not betray the trust they showed me, and I have to show gratitude towards those that chose to feed my wife and child.

As I stand there among shelfs of bread I and closed my eyes to focus on whatever may lurk in the precipice of my home. I heard, boots crunching dry leaves and I heard agitated breathing, who ever was scouting was either excited or frightened, it mattered not, he would leave a trail to follow as he retreated further into the embrace of trees.

There I stood and waited, a few minutes had passed before I left the warehouse to pursue, whoever dared to threaten my people.

Having followed the trail, I came about an alcove, one I had passed many times, one I had in view, and I counted the people, eleven. There were voices as well, “Claude! Claude! You are not listening, I tell you that guard or whatever he is, he is on to us! Has been going around the town in circles. For no damn reason he walks and checks and stands and looks.”

“BAH! If that one was on to us, the guards and that Lord Robs would have stormed our spot already. That supposed hound is only for show. To make us think twice before we do anything drastic. In the dew of the morning, they will get to feed our bellies, with whatever the have left. You said everything had been put together in one barn? Less trouble scavenging all for ourselves.”

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My face formed a twisted smile, they thought themselves hunters but were already prey.

“Should we lay an ambush or just attack them?” Gulliver questioned.

Robs thought for a few precious seconds before making the decision. “We will surround them, and tie the noose around their necks, I will not let anyone think we would be easy prey. Other scoundrels will get to hear our deed of culling those that mean harm in my territory.”

Standing in the hall I just waited for the order, Gulliver also shared in the bloodlust, and I could see on both him and Robs their lips curling upwards in anticipation to bring death to those that meant us harm.

“Joen, you will need a mace. Get one from the quatermaster. Lead the way, I am in the mood for hunting scum!” Robs shouted as we walked to the railing of the keeps inner yard. The watchmen were already gathered in the yard and started yelling and shouting for blood in the name of justice.

I heard the words and became eager. I went towards the quartermaster, he handed me a shield and a mace. I straped on the heater shield and looped the mace through my belt.

The alcove was not far but we decided to approach quietly and so the setting sun was already our ally and would still be our witness in this act of justice. Being hidden within the woods, they felt themselves safe not knowing only corpses would remain of this band of scoundrels.

Twenty to eleven, there was no chance for them to escape, I relayed the gesture of the man a few yards to my left towards Robs. Everyone was ready and I could feel my heart beating faster and harder than ever before, I was anticipating to end the threat, to take a life.

Robs stood and gestured for the charge. After a few yards into our sprint, Robs began to yell “Kill them all! Take no prisioners! Their sentence is cast!” The bandits had panic written across their face and the first few could not even produce a sound before their heads had each met a mace.

I charged the leader, he was a tall man, he seemed my equal in hight, covered in a blue clothed brigandine and a sword at his hip. At the noise he was quick as a horse to draw the blade. He knew that I had my eyes on him, my eyes that radiated hate and contempt for the evildoers.

I was only covered in a gambeson and had no helmet. The heater shield held before me, I ran up to him, mace held high ready for a devastating blow, but as I closed the distance he had took his stance ready to skewer me. I slightly rotated my wrist and instead to strike down I stabbed towards him, and I hit his chin. That should have broken his jaw and despite that, in his stunned state he made an upwards slice towards my right arm which I had exposed to stab at him, the sword easily sliced the thick linen and I felt … nothing, probably the battle heat numbing my senses, I made to strike towards his lower hip to avoid being blocked by the sword. As the mace connected his sword rotated downwards, again to target my arm, and I barely pulled my hand from the cut, yet he managed to hit the shaft of my weapon and I had to let go, lest I wanted to lose some fingers. This resulted in the man overswinging, and I decided to tackle him down with my shield. The rim hit his chin again and once on top I could sense his hand stuck under the shield, so I quickly put my knee into it, and I felt the sword slipping. I slammed my free hand as a fist into his skull and I felt something give and break, I saw his arms limping, yet I was not satisfied with his unconsciousness, that despicable man had to perish, now. I looked for the mace and once I had it, I made to swing for Claudes skull once more. As I did so, I felt the need to clarify “Hello Claude! I am the hound!”

Blood splattered onto my frenzied face, and I noticed the fight had already come to an end. It seemed the leader was last, and everyone looked at me. As I sat atop the corpse, I sucked in air heavily. I was not exhausted but I felt so drained, and then the nausea washed over me, I could hold it in, the bile rising to my mouth. I pressed my lips shut and my eyes wandered around the men. Everyone looked perplexed at my ugly visage, so after an awkward silence I raised my bloodied mace and yelled. With the scum vanquished, cheers erupted, victory and peace were claimed.