The glow of dawn’s light warms the bones of a tired Ryuden and his horse. It illuminates the familiar landscape near the settlement’s inn, and dissolves the thick shadows trying to pour out from the forest. The chirping of birds coexists with the rhythmic pounding of the horse’s hooves against the dirt road.
While physically there, Ryuden is elsewhere entirely in thought. The question left unanswered from the night before caught him off guard. He has butchered countless people, but it has always been in the name of his own survival. Surely, either he had to die, or they had to, right? He did as he was ordered to. And, if he had not killed the couple, they would have alerted his target, and he would have lost the opportunity for information. With the inn in sight, Ryuden spurs the horse in his impatience.
Despite it being early morning, nobody is outside. A lone crow greets Ryuden, perched atop the inn.
Dismounting the horse, Ryuden approaches the inn. Reaching to open the door, he stops his hand from touching the handle at the last second. The door is open, already. Pushing it open wider, he tenses at an alarming scene; broken glasses, toppled tables, and the half burnt logs of a fire are scattered about.
Drawing his dagger, Ryuden approaches the bar. His frown only deepens when he finds the innkeep. There he lay, face down and motionless. Climbing over the bar, Ryuden kneels down to examine the body. Though the back shows no signs of injury, a large gash through the throat is revealed when the body is flipped over. “Siyerrod plagues me,” mutters Ryuden. There lays his chance, dead on the floor. He closes his eyes, fists clenched.
Someone clears their throat.
Whirling around and standing up, Ryuden feels a hand grip him by the throat. His feet leave the ground, and his body is pinned against a wall. His dagger having slipped out of clutch from the sudden attack, Ryuden swings his fists frantically at his attack. Though his blows land over and over, they only serve to anger his attacker, who makes it impossible to breathe.
“Let him go,” a familiar voice says.
“Why should I?” asks the attacker. “Could be another Inquisitor--”
“An Inquisitor who comes alone, and ill-prepared?”
Ryuden pries the hand at his throat to grant himself more air. When he is released completely, he slumps to the floor. Air rushes into his lungs as he makes no effort to retaliate to his attackers. Though in sight, his dagger is well beyond his reach.
“Well, it seems we were destined to meet again,” the familiar voice says. The blonde woman from before kneels next to Ryuden, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I apologize for the rude greeting. We were waiting for the lucky man who slaughtered one of my clients. Would you happen to know where he is?”
Ryuden says nothing, trying to regulate his breathing.
“You say he’s right in front of me? Why… that must put you to blame, then.” Taking her hand away, she presses cold steel against Ryuden’s throat. “The Ravens of Night have a very… vague rule when it comes to stealing or ruining a contract. It says the wrongdoer must be punished, but does not specify the punishment. I could part open your throat, or slap you across the face.” Smirking, she pulls her knife away. “I have a much better idea, however.” The woman stands up, picking Ryuden’s dagger off the ground. “You may call me Yanna.” She motions to the quiet, bulky figure who attacked Ryuden.
The figure looms over Ryuden for a moment, and -- without warning -- strikes him over the head.
***
“What’s the matter?” Kelyn asks, standing behind Ryuden .You think it’s over? That the Wolves have perished?”
“An army came in and killed off nearly all of our people.” Ryuden folds his arms over his chest, giving a nod towards the bandits huddled around a campfire. Even under the heat of flames, the snow barely melts around them. “Those who did escape are hopeless for sanctuary now.”
“You are looking at it from the wrong angle, son.” Kelyn places a hand on Ryuden’s shoulder, unphased by the old. “We were -- are, group of warriors that could only be stopped by an entire army coming down on them. Do you know what that means? We can rebuild, and once we are stronger than before, no physical force in the world can stop us. It is time for a new home, wouldn’t you agree?”
Raising a brow, Ryuden looks at Kelyn. “Where would you propose we go?”
Kelyn scratches his beard. “We ought to find one of them forts in Oner. We’ll take one over.”
“The Onerian Army isn’t that weak.”
“They are if their forces are too engaged in their war with Omem.” Kelyn leaves Ryuden, heading towards the campfire. “Listen up, you cattle-tongued fiends! We leave Uskbight by dawn. The Wolves of the West will find a new den, and grow stronger than before. We were forged in the crucible of ice and death, now let us share this might with the world!”
Ryuden sits back against a tree, listening to the cheers amongst the survivors. They would grow stronger, as they had before. Back when the ‘Wolves of the West’ was one man and his innocent boy.
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