As Indulf sat in the back of the wagon a dream or should it be called a nightmare crept into his mind causing him to shiver in fright.

The dream if one could call it that. Showed him standing in a small town he was born but ….. It was set alight with corpses in various stage of dismemberment spread throughout the town gore and blood paint many of the walls within sight! Soon a voice boomed out from seemingly nowhere causing him to flinch and grasp his ears in pain from the volume.

“So this child shall be the one to forge this world a new? Hmm…. Very well then but! Know this child before you tread down this path I must warn you this is a path of pain, loss, and tragedy! Do you wish to accept this to take upon your shoulder the fate of so many?

Indulf sat there for what seemed to be an eternity thinking but soon he responded at first in a hush almost inaudible but soon his voice rose, it rose to a bellow after gazing upon the looks of despair that gripped the dead surrounding him ever so tightly.

“Yes…. Yes, I’ll do it if it means that I can prevent whatever this!”

With a wave of his hand gesturing to the dead and dying around him as well as the burning building that grew to

“Hmm so you have the will to take this path there will be a time where you may regret this but take heed child this path for all its adversities shall lead you to glory the which’s you  and all that inhabits this world have yet to know!”

As soon as the voice ceased speaking a horrible pain enraptured Indulf’s right eye it felt as if a hundred red hot needles were piercing through it at an agonizingly slow speed soon he could stand it no longer and with a start awoke to the rumble of the wagon he resided in.

After taking the time to glance around and ascertain that he was no longer asleep finding that he could feel the rock of the wagon the too cold of the later autumn air on his skin he soon came to the conclusion that he indeed was awake once more.  

He looked down and he found that he still clade in the clothes he wore before falling asleep. Indulf sat dressed in a gray dress shirt, vest, dark leather trousers and a set of boots outfitted with a set of steel gray greaves dangling from a vest pocket was a silver chain that leads into a black leather duster his storm-gray eye glanced out from under the edge of a worn black tricorn hat.  

Shifting back and forth finding nothing worthy of noting He set his feet underneath him and rose to his full height was soon met by a noise from his right that drew forth his attention.

There next to wagon driver crouched a young girl no older than seven if Indulf were to guess. Indulf upon seeing this raising an eyebrow quizzically and open his mouth to speak only to the child before him to enlist a yelp and crouch lower trying to hide from Indulf’s stern gaze.

After a moment Indulf relaxed his gaze and crouched down near the girl and in as soft a tone as he could muster. “And who are you, my dear?”

The girl crept forward a little and in a hushed tone responded by giving her name in a slight stutter.

“I-I my name is Evalin.”

Upon looking at Evalin Indulf noticed that had quite a fair complexion her hair was auburn tied back in a ponytail that was resting on her shoulder her eyes were dark brown much like hazel. She wore a dark green dress.

After hearing her name Indulf reached out with his hand and introduced himself.

“Well Evalin it is a pleasure to meet you and since you gave your name I shall give mine I am Indulf Anexues.”

After a few moments of time, Evalin sat up further and asked Indulf a question.

“Si-sir…are…are you one of those…strange people?”

With a pause, Indulf looked over and with an eyebrow raise asked in a quizzical tone.

“Why what ever do you mean by strange people my dear?”

As Indulf spoke Evalin jumped and began to ask in an excited tone.

“You know people like The dragon slayer Sir Vilhelm I hear he’s a true and just hero who will not stop till the common people are given their justice! Or Lady Auriol Nightsong I hear she has been helping to deal with something off in the east!”

After a moment Indulf with a smirk gracing his features respond.

“Ah yes them well I can’t claim to have to achieve feats such as there but I am no slouch in any right.”

After responding to her question Evalin began to pelt Indulf with questions of some of his journey others of what he was doing and if he knew any famous Huntsmen or Huntress?

This cause Indulf to chuckle softly to himself as this child before him as she continued on for quite some time until they felt the wagon lurched to a stop and a shout filled the air.

After taking a moment to get his things Indulf soon turned to Evalin and informed her to wait in the wagon once she nodded in agreement Indulf set off from the wagon move up through the stopped caravan until he reached the front where a large group had gathered.

As he neared the crowd he could hear a voice shout at everyone present.

“Alright everyone here I must ask you a tax for you see you have crossed into the Brotherhood of the shade’s territory and well it wouldn’t look right if we simply let anyone pass through without paying a toll now would it?”

The man declaring this to the crow was tall with a muscular build from Indulf position he’d guess 6’2 weighing at probably at least two hundred pounds also noteworthy was what he was wear unlike the rest of these “bandits” if they could be qualified as so most of the men and women present wore not much beyond simple leather armor and a few had shoddily made weapons and very few of them held bows in their hand. But this excluded the man shouting the orders this man was dressed in practically brand new armor that shimmered in the sun light besides that on his back rested a pole of sorts that emanated a dark aura of sorts and was of amazing quality.

After a moment Indulf felt two figures attempt to take the case that Indulf held clenched in his left hand as for the other he attempted to snatch away the holster inside his coat but before the could tug with any significant force they were struck by the case that Indulf held in his hand

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To which two more of the bandits shout

“OI we got somethin’ special here boss!”

Soon the man standing at the center of the group soon shouted.

“You daft lad or just have a death wish!?!”

After moment Indulf turned and glared while coldly exclaiming.

“Oh nothing much besides dealing with the pest who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.”

To which the man roared back in response.

“Lad you must not know who I am for you see in these parts belong to me Cerviel Rodgers and there are no lords there ain’t no government! And any who cross here must pay a toll but you see normally the toll is just a little gold or whatever you have on you that I desire but you see now that you’ve hurt me, boys, the toll for you is death!”

“Taste  death from me buddy The Oath of Fury!!”

But as the swing went to connect with flesh all it collided with was the air and the dirt below it after a moment the Goliath retrieved his Polearm and glanced around scratching his head.

“Oi, where’d the bloke go he was here just a moment ago.”

“Oh, are we gonna do this then well I must warn you this won’t end well for you.”

Before the man could react to Indulf’s voice he felt a burning pain shoot through his entire left side as a massive boom echoed in his ears causing him to fall to his knee trying to ascertain what was up and what was down.

“Hmm… Now that he’s dealt with what shall I do to these little minions of his hmm decisions, decisions to be made.”

“Oh I know I’ll give you three options. Option one you come quietly and well that's it's we turn you in at the nearest fortress, town or what have you. Option two you stand and fight and well … I slaughter you and as for option three you could try to run but I can guarantee you won’t get far.”

“So what shall it be for I don’t have the time to deal with you so I give you to the count of five.”

Upon saying this Indulf held up his hand and started to count down.”

“1...2...3...4…”

Before he could finish counting the man had gotten back up and slammed the pole of his halberd into Indulf side flinging him several yards.

After finally come to a halt indulf turned his gaze to this

But when Indulf turned to see who had gotten the drop on him he was forced to curse under his breath for Cerviel had not yet perished in fact it looked as if he had received no words to speak of.

“Well fuck me a restitutor that’s not something you see every day and here I thought today was going to be dull.”

After seeing this Indulf then placed case well speaking out to Cerviel.

“Hmm well I can see there finally someone worth my time so tell me Cerviel do you truly know how to use that halberd or are you just gonna flail it around in the hopes of lightning striking twice?”

Upon saying this Indulf retrieve a large folded balded that was serrated on one edge after standing back up Indulf flicked his wrist in a manner that causes several cogs to turn and soon the blade reaches its full length and upon further inspection at the end of the blade rested a hole. And at the top of the hilt rest what appeared to be a trigger.

After the two combatants eyes met they soon disappeared in an explosive blur of motion each colliding causing their weapons to emit sparks as a battle of strength occurred.

At first it seemed as neither of them could gain any clear edge in their attempts to separate their blades but soon  with a swift turn and grabbing of a secondary weapon Indulf manage to edge the first skirmish into his favor as the bullet pierced through the air burrowing its way through Cerviel’s knee causing him to fall.

But it made little difference for moments later Cerviel was once again on his feet but the two jumped back several feet each eyeing the other trying to obtain any flaws any weak point in the other only to find nothing.

After a moment Indulf sighed and exclaimed to Cerviel

“Hmm…So you really don’t know when to quit do you?”

“Oi you think you can hurt the big bad Cerviel then alright boy come and face your doom”

“Oh, my doom now I’d like to see you try.”

With that, the exchange of blows began a new causing thunderous echoes to radiate off from the two as blade met blade, clever to the halberd, one soul against another! But to no avail, as neither could gain ground on the other the best they could score was superficial cuts and blows at best.

However slowly but surely Cerviel began to make some progress pushing Indulf back an inch at a time and soon he began to bellow in what he thought was his victory but soon this bellow turned to one of rage as he felt a searing pain exploded in his chest the origin of this pain?

Why Indulf’s clevered had belched a swarm of molten metal into his chest and for a reason that Cerveil could not seem to grasp the wound was closing much slower than it would have. If it had been a normal wound but he could feel whatever just hit him was in a way…. Eating him

After a moment Cerveil grasped his chest and stumbled back and began to fall to his knees only for Indulf to move and run him through with his blade making the wound that was already having trouble sealing itself and before he could even try to figure out how to proceed Indulf leaned in and said something that causes Cerveil’s soul to nearly freeze.

“Tch tch tch Cerveil I must admit something I know there no feasible way for me to kill you but you know what I am going to do… I am going to make beg for death to take you!”

This, of course, caused Cerviel to subconsciously whimper for he no longer could value the man before him as human he-he was a god damn monster incapable of sympathy in any form at all!

Further more once Cerviel was once again on his feet he began to scramble back in fear of this of this specter of death that stood before him that even if it admits to him that it couldn’t snuff out his life it did explain that it would give him the desire to grant such an event to come to pass.

And to the shock of all the bandits presents Cerviel took the option that would lead him to the least suffering and began to beg for forgiveness and to simply be let go or taken prisoner as long he was to suffer no more pain.

With a sigh, Indulf shrugged his shoulders and proclaimed

“Here I thought today was going to be at least some what interesting oh well. Now, where was I………… Ah yes, I remember now so what will it be ladies and gentlemen will you surrender or are you going to march to your deaths before me?”

After a brief pause, the bandits began to fling their weapon to Indulf’s feet and raise their hands above of them showing that they wished to surrender.

After taking a moment to secure the bandits Indulf walked to a nearby wagon and lept in laying down with his items back in the carriage and pulling himself in.

At least that was his plan except as he went to do so he was blocked by several rusted blades pitchforks and even a woodsmen ax or two.

After a moment Indulf turned his head to the people blocking his path and raised an eyebrow.

“Sooo…..You gonna let me into the carriage or what?”

Soon one of the men present stepped forward and said.

“Sir after what we all just saw and well …. Heard some of us feel that maybe you shouldn’t be traveling with us right now.”

After a moment Indulf looked at them and exclaimed whilst pointing to the area he and Cerviel had just fought.

“That sir you may not know this but the only reason I went that far was because there really was no other option for there is only one thing people like him know. And that is fear!”

After a moment they began to circle him tighter forming a wall of spikes and iron and once more the man who spoke repeating what he had said.

But before he could finish the man was double over as an older man approached and proceeded to smack the former upside the head whilst shouting.

“TOM I THOUGHT I RAISED YOU BETTER THEN THIS AND I COME OVER TO THANK THE MAN WHO SAVED US ONLY TO FIND YOU HOLDING HIM AT THE END OF PITCH FORKS YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!?!”

But the man who had just been dubbed as Tom shouted at the old man claiming.

“AND HOW DO WE KNOW HE’S NOT LIKE ONE OF THEM THAT THE MINUTE WE TURN OUR BACKS TO HIM HE WON’T SIMPLY SLIT OUR GOD DAMN THROATS WHILE WE SLEEP!?!?”

But the old man already had a response to that train of thought already prepared.

“If he wanted to do that Thomas he would have done so by now but yet here we stand with him protecting us no less!”

Forlorn look soon filled Tom’s feature and he turned to Indulf and apologized to him for the matter at hand to which Indulf simply waved it off saying.

“If I can’t let some little matter like that go I have no right to be in the field of work I am so all is forgiven just next time try to simply talk not go full force mob on me.”

A few of the folk wielding weapons soon drop them and began to weep and it was with that that Indulf could tell these people had no rage against only they felt disappear for they had been pawns to one such as Cerviel for too long-suffering at his hands on a whim only for what could have been someone much worse to sweep in and deal with Cerviel with haste and no remorse!

But no more they were severed from such fates and it was now up to them to choose the path before them.

Soon Indulf looked at them and announced.

“So are we going to simply sit here all damn day or are we going to get a move on because if not we’ll have problems of every damn beastie within several miles smelling the blood spilled today!”

After a cart was unloaded and the bandits were tied up and put in the cart the group set off once more yet with the smears of blood from the fight soon leaving their sight. As Indulf sat in the back of the wagon allowing sleep to take him once more.

Soon time seemed to drift by and Indulf found himself in the city of Lunse or as some had dubbed it the city of magic and invention and it was in this city where Indulf would come to find an unlikely friend but that is a tale for another day oh reader of mine.