“Leonardo, shall we not go home? It’s getting darker…” His squire urged him.

  Leonardo huffed dismissively and shook his head, a dry branch shattering under his leather boot as he answered. “Are you going to pester me at every turn? This forest is already pestering enough with its twists and tangled vines, no, we will not go home until we find the elk.”

  The squire rubbed his shoulder nervously as he followed his master, the wind roared at their wake and sent leaves flapping against one another under a gloomy sky. “You already injured it, the wolves could be on it by now… this was a bad idea, no one should hunt in this forest with no party, not even you, er, m’lord.”

  “I outta geld you for that tone boy…”

  The squire face turned pale.

  Leonardo stared into his eyes or rather soul for a very long second as they both stopped walking, then the lordling laughed. “I tease, you’re no horse.”

  The squire sighed in relief, his shoulders dropped and his face found its often pinkish tone. “You tease far too harshly m’lord.”

  Leonardo chuckled lightly but his words were far sharper. “I may tease but others will not, we have important guests tonight at father’s keep, best be at your best behaviour pot.”

  His name was Peter but the lordling took it to call him pot since his head got stuck in one once, Peter did not protest the nickname.

  “Yes m’lord.” Pot answered, his wobbly face growing grim, perhaps I scared the boy too much…

  “It’ll be fine, just avoid speaking unless spoken to and be polite, or play dumb, you’re good at that.”

  “M’lord.” The boy's grim expression brightened as he pointed ahead, through the layer of scattered branches and veil of vines behind the hard Rolivian trees, there was blood, fresh and plenty scattered across the dirt that drank on it greedily until it could drink no more and turned into mud. “It must be the elk! Lots of blood too, it must be already dead!”

  Don’t be too sure. “Be on your guard, if it’s not dead then it’s desperate to survive, a stab from its horn is an endline.”

  Pot nodded, he quickly reached for his belt and adjusted the quiver of arrows that he carried around for the lordling, the lordling dagger, the lordling sword and other equipment.

  As for the lordling himself, he kept his spear in case the animal charges or is too weak to charge, either way he would rather pierce his heart, his dark red garment could not withstand any hit, it was all wool bundled under brown leather that carried a few pouches with herbs and coins, his heavy green cloak would protect him far better than his garment, nevertheless, the lordling preferred to end this as quick as possible.

  “Keep the flint ready pot, if we see a single wolf we light it to keep them at bay and leave.”

  The pair began their advance, leonardo was at the lead and pot at his heels, they circled from the left and moved around the trees that blocked their vision instead of cutting through the branches and veins, the elk would not hear it due to the heavy wind but leonardo would not put that to the test.

  Once they manoeuvred around and reached the blood, the trail was clear, it moved further west, towards the cliff where all corners of the forest meet in the center, all ending in a cliff that drops into a piece of land and a lake unbothered and untouched by most folk, it is said to be holy and a place where spirits reside to make their peace, and by decree of lord Donatello the second of house Giovanna, that land is under his protection and non shall trespass nor lay a finger on it.

  If the elk dropped down the cliff…

  Leonardo began to hurry, he was panicking, he did not wish to return empty handed, not on this day, his father would not have it.

  “M’lord! Wait!” Pot shouted, the equipment he carried rattling with each step he took, the lordling did not turn to the squire, he ran as fast as he could, he will not allow the elk to become a carcass for the crows or wolves who dared climb down the cliff.

  His chest heaved with each breath he took, running and dodging every croaked branch, vein, stick, overgrown root, he felt it under his boot though, the change in the blood trail, the earth had not turned into mud yet, he’s not far, i’m faster, stronger, he’s weak, prey…

  The lordling chase came to an end, a deep exhale of relief followed, the elk laid near the trunk of a dead broken oak tree, the animal was as dead as the tree, both inches away from the cliff.

  Though the lordling approached warily, spear in both hands and pointed forward, first he looked around searching for eyes, No wolves… I should still hurry.

  Then he jumped ahead from a safe distance and stabbed his spear into the elk chest until the spear head touched the ground under the body, only then would the lordling become content, he slain his prize and it was his to claim.

  Leonardo set the spear aside but not too far then began examining the elk, no bite marks, no visible disease, the only present injuries are one in the hind leg where his arrow still lunged into the flesh, though it seemed that the elk movement caused the arrow to shift left away from the vessel it hit, therefore allow for the blood to expel from the wound, His stubbornness and haste doomed him…

  As for the second wound, it came from the stab of the spear and the bloo–

  “Yeah, yeah you like this don’t you, you love it deep huh!” Through the howling of the wind, the voice said under the cliff.

  For a moment, the lordling froze in both surprise, wariness and embarrassment, he heard the words clear as day. They came from beyond the cliff. It can’t be, no one is allowed down there unless they’d like to be hung… it can’t be spirits… right? No spirits wouldn’t… or would they…

  The lordling blushed at the thought but shook it off, he descended down to the ground, staying as close to it as he could and crawled ahead, he peeked from the end of the cliff, it was as pretty as he had recalled it from his many visits, beautiful red trees with purple leaves spread across the land surrounding a body of crystal waters untouched by men and as pure as it could be, he admired the scene for a moment under the light of the sunset, then he saw them, his eyes widened, his pupils dilating in grimness, awe and disgust.

  The bigger man, almost bald headed with shades of white splattered across his wrinkled head, he was moving his waist back and forth, his arse more wrinkled than his head and flapped with each move like a wet nurse belly fold, what was under him the lordling could not see, probably a woman, he could hear her moans, albeit probably fake, it was like watching pigs in a pen, the lordling stomach turned with each groan and grunt he heard from the man.

  And yet Leonardo remained curious, and what better way to pass the time until pot arrives then to find the source of the next gossip, perhaps scold those oafs for fornicating on sacred land, threaten to geld them, he would not do it though, it was for jokes, but if father sees or hears about this, gelding would be the least of their concerns.

  Thus Leonardo crawled slightly to the left willing to gain a better angle, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk his mother told him, but they were useless without the correct angle.

  When he saw it, he wished that he had not chased after the elk.

  Two times smaller than the man, with blank eyes and golden hair cascading on the rock beneath them, she had her arms wrapped around the man’s neck, her teats barely moved despite the constant rocking back and forth, the lordling knew right there and then, the girl was barely ten, while that left his jaw dropped, that was not what disturbed him the most, he could now glimpse the man attire.

  Leonardo sat up and watched closer, no doubt that was velvet, this man is no sick twisted commoner, it was worse, a sick twisted noble or merchant, his bag of coins was on the ground, it was the only thing that looked heavier than the man himself, and his dagger that rested against the rock, the hilt was not of common craftsmanship, and it had a crest but he could not see it though it seemed familiar…

  Only the northern lords imbed their families or houses crest into their daggers, Leonardo knew that as he himself mimicked the tradition. I do not know who he is or who the girl is but I shouldn't let them see me…

  “Who are those people…” Said Pot besides Leonardo.

  The lordling was startled, he had dropped his guard and jumped aside, his elbow bumped into Pot and the equipment fell on the ground with a loud rattled thud and Leonardo dagger went sprawling down from the equipment into the cliff and soon down the ground.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  I should geld you, you damn foxy fool!

  The lordling pulled down his squire to the dirt floor and covered his mouth, They can’t see us… but the damn dagger has my crest.

  “Hey! Someone there?! Come out! I mean you no harm! It’s quite impolite to peek into a man’s chambers and see his nakedness!” The man shouted as the winds ceased their howling and roaring, leaving only silence behind as Leonardo remained still.

  He did not see us, it’ll set soon as well, he won’t find the dagger in the dark nor will he stay around if he had his wits… i’ll come back here on vigil’s hour and retrieve it with some household guards… so long he did not see us…

  The man shouted a few more times, spoke to the young girl, but the lordling did not stay long enough to listen, he dragged pot alongside him and once they were far enough, only then they stood, the squire tried to speak but the lordling sternly interrupted him. “I didn’t see a thing, YOU did not see a thing, if you claim otherwise, I’ll abandon you and call you a liar, do i make myself clear?”

  The squire nodded, his knees shivering like a naked plant stripped from its green, Good, I scared him, he won’t speak a word and get himself killed…

  Without their prize, missing arrows and a bloodied spear, they made their way out of the forest defeated, clearing their tracks as they went, the lordling often turned to glance behind his shoulder, and he felt icy cold hands around his neck, if the lordling hated anything else more than being called the lordling, it was an enemy that is yet to be an enemy, Who was that man? He must be someone of importance, but what brought him down to Rolivia outskirts? Who was that girl? Did they see me? Did they see pot?...

  All of those questions plucked away at leonardo’s mind, he had not noticed one of the branches had torn at his cloak whilst he chased the elk until now, no missing pieces of wool however, just a torn cloth hanging about his shoulders, so insignificant yet it bothered him enough that he would stitch it before they left the forest.

  The sun had reached the lands of the horizon but the gleaming of the three moons and the stars was enough light casted on the walls of Roselle castle, black stones carved into pieces from the northern mountains of Emidia, standing almost as tall as the keep walls but not quite, it was not the length of it’s walls that made the castle strong, it was the hexagon shape and the elevation of the hill in which it was built upon, not to mention the bustling town surrounding it that took after it’s name and the farm lands that stretched until it touched the surrounding roads and woods, This would be mine someday…

  Leonardo often told himself the words, but being inside the keep, although warm and pleasant, he was showered in spittle and shouting as his father raged on in a low but irritating tone. “The guests already arrived while you were off running in the old forest, boy or should i say Lordling, when will you smarten up?”

  “I said I would bring a worthy meal to warm the bellies of our guests, I did not wish to be a vow breaker…” No man was below that of a vow breaker that did so on his own pleasures and merits.

  “And still you are, a vow breaker and a lordling who was not present to greet his guests.”

  Not by choice. “I injured the beast and tracked it but by the time I got to it, there were wolves on the carcass indulging, I had to slip away and cover my tracks…”

  “A fancy tale, make sure to read it to our guests, maybe it’ll amuse them.” Lord Romello Valentus told him, his whispers sharp as daggers. “ I raised you for seventeen years, I know your face when you lie…”

  The only one… maybe i should tell hi–

  Lord Romello let out a small sigh, his hands pressing against his temples as he rubbed them until he scraped his skin, his shoulders were far too raised than usual and narrow as he gulped every few seconds, Father is not well, he’s nervous…

  “Listen Leonardo, I do not mean to be too harsh at times, but you are my only heir besides your uncle, I place a great deal of hope and expectations on you, I know you had good intentions in whatever you planned to do but…” His father paused then added. “You cannot be everywhere and do everything all at the same time, sometimes you have to choose, and carefully… No man has been blessed with the gift to choose twice from the same casket.”

  Scold me instead. “Yes father, I understand.”

  “You are truthful but keep the mockery to yourself, boy.” How did he… “You smell like a corpse covered in dirt, go wash up and clean the cuts on your hands, there will be a feast in the hall soon, do not be late.”

  I do smell like a corpse in dirt, the lordling admitted and once he entered his chambers he undressed, he found a prepared basin of warm water at his disposal, he dipped himself inside it, the droplets hugged the corners of his lean yet firm flesh and all the way to his long slender fingers, old scars of his nights at the study scribbling away with his feather on leather or paper clenched to his index, middle and thumb, and soon enough the cuts on his hands from running in the forest would join, at least it wasn’t like Pot’s, The idiot got them on his face… idiot… the damn dagger…

  The lordling heart dropped as he recalled what occurred in the afternoon, if it was not for Pot, the dagger would not have fallen, the equipment would not have dropped, No… it was my fault too, I should have minded my own to begin with… I have nothing to worry about, they probably were merchants passing by…

  He cleared his thoughts, splashing his face with water and running it through his long brown hair, he straightened its tangles and let it rest on his shoulder, it would not go any further though.

  Once content with himself, the lordling dried himself and put on his attire, a velvet doublet of a crimson shade fastened by the belly with a boiled leather belt, and adorned across his attire with silver buttons which held the crest of his family, the crossed daggers under a sky of stars.

  He made his way to the hall, with each step he could hear his footsteps less and more of the laughter and chatter in the hall, the tunes of the flute and drums, the lousy remarks of what he assumed to be the household guards and the serving women, the crackling of fire and the chuckling of the jester… their hall did not harbor a jester, he must have arrived with the guest convoy or caravan.

  Leonardo pushed the doors open and was met with noise twice as loud as he had heard them on his way accompanied by a warm and stinging breeze that carried the smell of honey mead and roasted meat, it made his stomach grumble, all the running he did, the least he could get was a fresh meal.

  “Aye Leonardo! Thought you took after your chambers after a wank, Ehehehehe” Said old man Greymond, bold enough to call him by name and speak bluntly, blacksmith by trade, his swordsmanship tutor by hobby.

  “Excuse him m’lord he had a cup too many of rum’ and can’t find his tongue from his arse.” Noah told him, with a hint of sarcasm to the corners of his lips, he was the same age of Leonardo, though lived his life as a mercenary until he ended in his father’s guards, often underestimated, very dangerous with anything sharp.

  “Lord Leo.” “Lordling Leo.” “Young lord.” Sum up the remainder of the greetings as Leonardo made his way up to his seat next to his father’s and mother’s, he saw Pot standing beside them as well serving them wine but something about him was different, he looked off, unsettled, more than he usually would in gatherings and feasts, the boy was an orphan that Leonardo took in after finding him stealing from the stables, the boy was so hungry and brittle he had stolen hay to eat it, five years passed since then, he wasn’t as brittle but still as timid.

  Leonardo would not realize Pot’s reasoning of concern or panic, but he would as soon as he took his seat and gotten a look on the guests sitting on the right flank of the hall’s lord table, slightly beneath them, he saw them both, The man and the girl from the lake!!!

  Lord Romello tapped on the table with his goblet to silence the hall, and once it did, he exclaimed.

  “Duke Alexander Titus, allow me to introduce you to my son and heir, Leonardo Valentus,” His father stood from the hall lord seat and gestured for Leonardo with a cup of wine on his other hand. “The boy is sharp and I trust you would take a liking to him, he shares your interest in books.”

  Keeping a facade of cluelessness and wonder, Leonardo smiled at the guest, Alexander Titus and stood from his seat as he announced. “Duke Titus, it is my honor to meet you face to face. I read many of your works and they are very impressive and fascinating, especially Prince of snakes.”

  “The honor is all mine.” The duke rose his goblet with a wrinkled smile, his eyes piercing, emerald and shallow. “An interesting choice of a book, especially for your age but not disappointing… Have you met my daughter? Charlotte Titus, she’s a tad younger than you but smart, you’ll like her.”

  “Lord Leonardo.” She said with icy courtesy, and an icier bow.

  Daughter?... oh god… I want to…

  His thought was cut short by the faint sound behind his seat, he knew what it was, it was pot vomiting under him, he wished he could do the same.

  “What’s wrong with you Leo? Your face is pale as snow, are you sick? Did you harm yourself in your hunt?” His mother, Lady Rose the fifteen, or sixteen, Leonardo could not recall at the moment. “Your father told me about your cuts, did you clean them properly?”

  She reached for Leonardo's hands but he pulled them away quickly, he wanted to keep the word on the hunt down, at least until he gathered his thoughts… It would be embarrassing too. “I’m not a child, mother, I'm fine, just cuts.”

  “I… see, do be careful, and mindful of your appearance, at least until the guests leave.” His mother whispered to him.

  “I apologize for the absence of my son this morning, he would have welcomed you with the rest of us if he could have.” His father made conversation at his expense, Leonardo forced himself to smile apologetically. “He was out hunting.” YOU DAMN FOOL!

  “Was he now…” Leonardo did not like the duke’s tone, nor the way his left eye twitched. “Any good places to hunt around those outskirts? It is hard to find proper woods for hunting near the end of autumn.”

  “In the old forest of course, plenty of games are enough for myself and my subjects and guests, the old forest stays all the same from summer to winter.” His father further doomed him.

  The duke took a long sip of his goblet, he gently placed it down, wiped his lips clean with his purple velvet sleeve and asked. “Elk?”

  “Yes but– the wolves got the best of me and caught it before me, I was far too slow.” Leonardo said hurriedly before his father could speak. “I doubt they left anything for the crows.”

  “Ah wolves… Of course, the nuisance of any hunter.” The duke exclaimed with a clearly forced smile, he bought it, Even so, he checked where it was, he must have found the elk… i was right to cover my tracks and the lie i told my father was pure luck

  The rest of the night was lords talk and the chattering of the keep’s folk and the guests caravan, Leonardo had no stomach of it, same as Pot who remained with the jug of wine by his side, Leonardo had no urge to speak though, his mind had not wrapped around what had transpired, Of course he went to the lake, because no one would be there, but how did he climb up and down so fast, how could he even do so, he weighs at least eighty stones…

  Then his eyes drifted to the girl, the duke’s daughter, snow white skin under a layer of a beautiful emerald dress that matched her gorgeous eyes, crafted with an odd yet compelling mixture of silk and wool that gently hugged her sides up to her wrists were it was further more loose same as her golden silky hair that flew beneath her on the seat and almost to the ground but not quite, the strands in the sides of her head and forehead kept abide by pins and jewels.

  Then he remembered what he had seen at the lake and he could look at her no more.

  To think the duke is the only one standing between the alliance of the five cities against Rolovia, we’re not part of Rolivia but we’re in the way and the first to be hit whether we take part in their dispute or not… what i saw needs to go with me to the grave.

  The night passed calmly, it was still hours before the vigil and Leonardo could not sleep, by then the sounds of the hall had quieted down aside the brushing of the serving men and women as they cleaned the floor and tables, and probably Pot vomit as well.

  In such nights, the lordling refuge was the study, the three moons shined bright tonight, he would open the window and remove the curtains instead of wasting candles, the only symphony he would hear is the flipping of papers, and his only company would be the respectable and prestiged men that composed the words which he will read, not the duke’s books though, never again, i need to forget…

  Leonardo pushed the door of the study open, he smelled smoke then saw a small sharp red light, a candle, his heart skipped a beat, or a hundred, he saw him, the duke was there, he sat with his legs crossed on Leonardo’s seat, a dagger in his hand, not his own, it was a dagger with the crest of crossed daggers beneath a sky of stars. “Have a seat lordling… Your father tells me you’re so intrigued by my ancestors' culture that you went and made a dagger of your own like ours.”

  He knows.