"So, you blame the Ravenbeaks." said Hanuc, suddenly sober, though his white beard was stained brown with his drink.

"If you've got a better suggestion out with it. I don’t see how anyone else could have done it." I couldn't help but scowl under my hood.

"Something feels off, brother. The Ravenbeaks staging a coup? They aren't warriors. I am sure of that. I even heard that they make deals when raiding. Some gold and they won't attack." he spit on the floor in disgust "Such cowardice can't produce something that daring. What would they even get out of it?"

"That's…." I let my words trail off, he was right. Wrathful and envious they might have been, this does not help them at all. Too many were killed. If it was just me and my clan, things would be different, but one doesn't slay a king in hopes of getting in his good graces.

"Aye, they get nothing." Hurac summarized. As if he won the conversation, his eyes moved to his mug, grief on his face, he was running out of mead after all.

"But then again, who does gain anything from this? The city was burned, the land is free to take, but there is no shortage of fertile soil here. That place is nothing special."

"Maybe someone just wanted a blood bath. Maybe it was a cult? Of Denerri perhaps?"

"They don’t have the skill nor the numbers. The last I heard they murdered each other, in hopes that that will gain the favor of their indifferent godess."

"So a new cult then? Having to prove their belief to their bloody god?"

That was definitely possible, although such brazen actions are unheard of, I can't deny that the bloodshed was one of a butchers making. That would fit to the cult description. Although having a cult with enough members to commit this coup would be hard to suppress and the idiots are not exactly the patient kind.

"It would be much simpler if it was the Ravenbeaks"

"Aye, but our men never do have it easy do they?" he threw his empty mug away.

"They don't and neither do I now."

"That depends…" Hurac shook my shoulder, meeting my eyes. "Don’t think that I don’t realize what idea is budding in that simple head of yours. It's not a good idea brother. They slayed a number of men easily, why would you be any different."

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I met his gaze. He didn’t avert his eyes, but I could see his body stiffen.

"I can't let the murderers go, you know this."

"Aye, but you don’t need to be the one to catch them. You know our clan has always supported yours, you can join us, or we can help you rebuild. Just leave it to us. We will find the culprit." As the new mugs of mead arrived, he reached one out to me.

"Hurac, you are a righteous man fit for your clan. I am glad to be a brother to you and a friend to your clan. But this…I'd rather do alone. I made my mind already."

"You are bloodied Logher, you look no stronger than a newborn and you are no smarter than one either. As good a fighter you are, you need rest."

I channeled the anger that came from those words to my fist. My knuckles went white. I knew his words weren't without reason, but I dreaded hearing them even then.

"Do not pity me Hurac." I stood up. "Thank you for your hospitality, but I need to take my leave."

"Don't be a fool! You will die on the road in this state!"

"If I am to die, then I will join my clan, but it won't scare me off my goal. Keep strong Hurac, if we do not meet again, let the cause be an honorable death." I walked out of the Inn.

It was raining heavily, the muddied streets were empty and my legs were shaking. I found an old wooden hut on the outskirts of the town. It was empty and dusty enough to show that noone would be coming back here.

After putting my bedroll on the ground, I watched the raging storm on the sea. The waves were angry and unyielding, the lighting fast and forceful. Gods were doing battle somewhere for this big of a storm to come. Just two days before, I'd knew without a doubt who my faith and prayers would go to, but now I wasn't so sure. These doubts for my god, they felt justified. But the fresh anger had already dissipated and with that came reason. Most of the blame I put on others, I did so on a whim. I didn't know anything of why such a thing was done, nor did I know its perpetuators.

But I knew better than to second guess my instinct. It might not mean that Fothi and Ravenbeaks were in cohorts, that they killed my clan, but they were involved, whether they knew it or not. Being ignorant is no excuse for my families bloodshed.

As the sea and the storm battled on, my world turned dark and I closed my eyes.

I slept without issue. It was no full rest, I slept only partly, having to be wary of my surroundings. The dagger came once and my back was worse for it, I won't brandish for others to stab again.

I stood up from the cold stone floor and gathered the little I had. A simple tunic, with a shredded back, a pelt blanket a small dagger and some little dried meat.

With no gold to my name, no men to call to arms. A man accusing a clan and a god of betrayal.

Hurac was right. Ravenbeaks weren't the culprits, though their sudden disappearance was suspicious. I had some questions that demanded answers, and what better way to get them, than make a rat squeal?

A smile showed itself on my face and I sent it away. I did not want to revel in this. I wanted my path to be just. Paved by necessity, not by bloodlust. Though dampening my excitement proved to be a struggle, because no matter which path I took, they all led to a single point. Me holding the Ravenbeak patriarch by the throat. Hurac's words still resonated within me too, but I didn't want to take the advice. I had to act quick, lest I scare myself and fall into the trap of comfort and life.

As I was cleaning my face, I took a look at myself in the still water. Surprisingly, the ash did not fall from my hair. Even when I brushed my hand through it, none fell out. Hopefully it'll be enough to get to the Ravenbeaks mislead, though someone that knew me would still recognize me. A risk I couldn't help but take.