Chapter 1

I don’t remember too much of my childhood life. But there are a few things I do remember, some good, some bad.

I grew up in a small village in the Great North, raised by a weak, cowardly mother and an abusive, drunkard of a father. I can’t count how many times I found myself huddling in a corner listening to the screams and begging of my mother as she was beaten black and blue by my father for no reason at all.

The worst was when he turned to me.

“Runt! Get o’er here!” My father shouts as he stumbles drunkenly towards me, with an anger fueled by alcohol clear on his face. He is a short, fat man, incapable of wielding an axe and unable to join a war-band, forcing him to make a living through gambling. The problem is, he isn’t very good at it, and often leaves in deficit. Even if he does win something, he always spends most of it on alcohol, then returns home and takes his anger out on me and my mother.

He leans over me with a sadistic grin on his face. As he speaks, I can smell the overpowering scent of alcohol on his breath.

“I see ya ratted me out to th’ butcher about cheatin’ in th’ card game, didn’t ya? DIDN’T YA?!” He roars at me as his face contorts into a scowl, spitting all over me. I huddle deeper in the corner, trying to escape.

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“But he said he would give me meat if I told the tru-” I’m cut off as he slaps me across the face, hard. My head snaps back against the wall, leaving dark spots floating around my vision.

“I DON’T CARE WHAT HE BRIBED YA WITH, RUNT! YA LOST ME 5 SILVERS!” He roars as he picks up a cane from a barrel next to me. “And now,” He almost whispers, “I’m gonna show you the consequences,” He pauses as he raises the cane. I glance at him fearfully. “OF TATTLIN’. ON. YOUR GOD. DAMNED. FATHER!” With every word he shouts he forcefully brings the cane down on my back. My muscles seize up with every hit. I feel a liquid streaming down my face. I’m crying.The last thing I see before I black out is the cane whistling towards my head.

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I hope you enjoyed this pseudo-prologue-chapter-thing. I understand it’s short, but this chapter was mainly just to give you and idea of the MCs early life, and get me going on the story. See ya in the next chappie!

~Socks