Ashe stood by the window, the rain plopping against the glass and sliding downward. He drew in a deep breath and fogged the window up as he released a hard sigh. It was a strange thing being a free man again. He rubbed his left wrist, feeling the scars of the ropes that had bound him during the journey to Torgos. Staring out into the evening rain, he began to recall the events of previous months, the story playing out in his head just as it had happened.
************************************************** ********
Coming out of the inn one night, Ashe was on the familiar path home. The night was clear, it was a warm night, nothing out of the ordinary. Whistling an old tune, he was eager to get home to a warm bed, eager to see his love who he hoped was in that warm bed. He smirked to himself, life was good. But as he walked by the road that ran by the river, a strange feeling of danger washed over him. Immediately his hand went to the blade on his belt but the sounds of a cocking gun hammer prevented him from pulling the blade from his sheath. "Hold it right there, boy. "Less you want to lose your life." Ashe narrowed his eyes as a man stepped out of hiding holding a blunderbuss filled with scrap metal and all other sorts of nastiness designed to leave a man in pieces. The man looked as dangerous as his weapon, his gray hair showing age, the scars on his face showing experience in battle. His eyes were a pale blue, much like one would imagine the eyes of Lady Death when she came to collect a soul. "That's right, nothing foolish boy." He stepped close and shoved the flared barrel under Ashe's chin. His free hand slipped the sword belt away from his waist, "Come on out, Telok." The man said without ever taking his eyes or gun from Ashe. With that, a stocky dwarf, black eyed and black bearded stepped out of the brush and took hold Ashe's arms. Fearful of losing his life, Ashe complied and soon enough his hands were bound in front of him. Ashe the whole while stared at the man who held him and soon said, "What is it you want' Gold and Gems?" he figured the man was after something deeper, perhaps now that Ashe was his prisoner, he would reveal some of the mystery to what the man wanted. The man laughed at him, the dwarf doing the same and Ashe found the dwarf's loud laugh to be obnoxious. The man spoke then, "Boy, if I wanted your gold, I would've shot you and taken it off your corpse. The crows would have had the rest." A cruel smile crossed his lips as he finally lowered the weapon, "My name is Roldain Thistledown, and I'm collecting you for the thirty thousand gold pieces on your head." Ashe's jade hues widened in surprise; who would have set such a price on his head" Ashe had not been without his share of enemies in the past, powerful enemies but thirty thousand gold pieces for his capture" Someone wanted him bad that was sure. "Do you know a man named Tanair Andolthwain?" his captor continued as Telok the dwarf now walked him toward some hidden horses. Ashe knew that name well; it was the man who Ashe had taken the most from. Not just gold and jewels but Ashe had disgraced him and the man had lost his position of power in the city of Targos. He had collected unfair taxes from the poor section of the city and Ashe not only exposed the corruption but he had organized the city against Tanair and had him banished from the city stripped of rank and power. He swallowed hard knowing why the price was so high now. Ashe swallowed hard and gave a slow nod. He knew that Tanair would enjoy torturing him and then he would parade the man who had ruined him before anyone who would watch and then execute him the in the worst way. Drawn and quartered or dipped in hot oil, Ashe couldn't help but wonder. "Then you know where we are going and you know what I'm here for. Let's get moving." Telok gave Ashe a rough shove, "Get yer boot up in the saddle, dragon turd!" Ashe did as he was told, all the while thinking of a way to escape. He had been in a number of these tight situations and every time he found his way out of it. Up in the saddle, Ashe looked down in Telok who was dumb enough to turn his back to him as he looked at Roldain and chuckled, "Easy money, bo?" He began to wheeze and choke as Ashe had come back off of the horse and pulled his bound hands around Telok's large throat. Roldain through the blunderbuss to his shoulder but Ashe had ducked down behind the dwarf's wide form, "Let him go, boy, you'll only hurt yourself!" Ashe said nothing; he only pulled his rope choker tighter against the dwarf's neck. Telok's face began to redden and he gurgled out, "Shoot him or me!" Roldain had no problem with that of course. The blunderbuss fired and chunks of scrap metal bit into the dwarf's leather armor and into his skin. Telok fell limp against Ashe and before he could remove his hands from the tangle of the dwarf's beard, Roldain walked up and struck him with the butt of the gun. The world around him faded to black as he lost consciousness. He awoke sometime later, lying with his arms and legs bound not far from where he had been captured. His head throbbed and his vision was a bit blurry from the impact of the gun stock. He looked around to see that morning was breaking through the tree line. Sitting across from him, Roldain was eating strips of dried meat, apparently waiting for him to wake. "Now you wake, now we leave." There was no humor in his voice, only a deadly seriousness that meant there would be no more games. Ashe spat at him, "Shoot me! Shoot me like you did your friend!" The hunter raised a brow and then the cruel smile appeared again, "Telok" He was no friend of mine, simply in my employ, looking for a bit of gold when the job was done. Not a bad man, but sort of stupid. Couldn't believe he turned his back on you. Reckon he got what he deserved and reckon Ill not have to pay him." He stalked over to Ashe and with the reloaded blunderbuss in one hand, he picked Ashe up by the bindings on his hands, "Now Ill need you to be coming along quietly." Ashe's eyes flared in anger, "What if I don't' What if I scream until I'm blue in the face so the city watch will come?" Roldain chuckled darkly at this, "What will I do if you scream' Ill cut your throat so you'll gurgle." His eyes held malice and no fear for killing without fear of consequence, "Then I'll go to see your lady." The anger in Ashe's green eyes faded and fear was seen unhidden in them. Bridget"! How do they know of her" Ashe thought. Roldain recognized the fear in those eyes and he continued on, "Ah, yes, the fiery lass you hold near and dear. You don't think I know of her" You didn't think I would come here without a backup plan did you?" He began to lead Ashe to the horses, "She's a beauty, and I'll give you that. And if you were to get away from me, I'll not pursue you, Ashe. Ill go and see her. I'll have my way with her, as many ways and times as I could think. I even think I'd do the deed on the bed you share with her." Ashe growled under his breath and he imagined how he would kill this man if his hands were free. The man lifted Ashe up onto the horse and tied his bound hands to the saddle horn. Ashe complied now, only because he was afraid that Bridget would be hurt because of his past. Inwardly, Ashe damned himself for the things he had done that led to this. He wasn't the least bit apologetic for helping the people of Targos, but suddenly he wished that he had killed Tanair Andolthwain. Roldain mounted his own horse; Ashe's horse tied behind it and set off through the forest. The journey to Andolthwain manor had taken almost two months. The only time that Ashe's hands had been free from his bonds had been to eat what Roldain gave him. And what Roldain had given him had only been enough to keep him from starving. Eating and to relieve himself when he had to. Of course, he spent his time eating and relieving himself with a blunderbuss barrel pointed in his direction. That was where he had gained the scars on his wrists. Andolthwain manor was large, larger than any home he had ever seen in his life. High wall surrounded the complex and the place seemed as if it were almost a small fortress. Roldain nodded to the guards who opened the large gate doors and let them pass through. Inside, the place was no less impressive. A large courtyard, decorated with fruit trees and flower gardens stood before him and beyond that was a grand house, made of marble and granite. On the marble steps stood a man with his hands clasped behind his back and wicked grin painted on his lips. "Tanair," Ashe whispered to himself, recognizing the man instantly. Tanair was a man that looked like a noble with long golden hair and blue eyes that made the ladies swoon. But those blue eyes held something deeper, malice intended for Ashe. Roldain dismounted and drug Ashe down from his mount, pushing him into the grass covered ground before Tanair, "There he is, my lord. Yours as soon as I get paid." Roldain's lit up greedily as he waited to be paid. Tanair looked at Roldain, the wicked grin never having left his features, "Of course, hunter. I think I shall even give you an extra ten thousand in gold for bringing him so quickly." His voice was icy and cruel. Roldain's covetous smile looked as if it would stretch to his ears as he thought of all the gold. He would live out his years in luxury. The finest food and the finest women; it would all be his. "Give the man what he is due," he gestured to the armed men who now stood behind Roldain. Roldain began to turn but a blade burst out of his chest, driven deep through his back. "Y-y-you lying dog!" was all Roldain could growl before he slumped to the ground dead. Tanair only smiled his mad smile as his gaze drifted from the dead bounty hunter to Ashe lie on the ground before him. He knelt before the bound thief and said, "When I'm finished with you, you'll wish for death. You'll scream for my mercy and Ill scream back, "NO!?" He rose up and nodded to his armed guard, "Take him to the dungeons." Ashe spent many weeks in those dungeons, deprived of food, water and sunlight. The only light to be found was a single torch that illuminated the hallway by the prison cells. Ashe spent those weeks believing he would die, believing that he would not wake each time he fell asleep. Soon he lost track of time, not knowing when was morning and when was night. He was fed enough to keep him alive. Any extra water was the moisture that would sometimes trickle through the stone ceiling on what Ashe guessed was a rainy day. The worst of it was the beatings. Sometimes they would take him from his cell to another room. Bound face down to an inclined table, they would take whips and chains to his back. Beat him until he bled and meat was sometimes torn away. They would throw him back in his cell and eye him to make sure that he didn't die. Sometimes a host of guards would enter his cell and while two held him; one would punch and kick him until he fell unconscious. Tanair Aldothwain stood and watched every moment of his torture. This endured until the beginning of spring, and Ashe knew that one the day he received no beating that his time was short. Ashe knew the beatings would have continued for a while longer but for one reason. Ashe had refused to cry out in pain for his captors. This angered Tanair to no end. He had flinched and his eyes had welled in tears of pain but never did he cry out. For every time he was being struck, his mind would wander to another place. Back home to a grassy meadow outside Rhy"Din City. Lying next to the redheaded pirate who had stolen his heart in his mind's eye, the pain seemed to affect him less. Even when he was alone in the darkness of his cell, he would often think of the woman he loved dearly. She was the sunlight where there was none. A few days passed without the beatings. He was certain that they wanted him to heal enough to experience the full extent of the pain during his execution. Feeling that Lady Death was on her way now to take his soul to the next world, Ashe decided that he would not go without a one last battle. He wanted to fight Tanair and his followers; he did no wish to go willingly to death. He heard the guards coming that morning. He knew that this morning was his morning, whether for good or bad, this was his morning. A pair of guards pulled open the iron door of his cell and entered and Ashe began, "Morning, guard. I trust your mother slept well?" The guard sneered at him, "My mother is dead, trash, you will not speak ill of her!" But Ashe continued, "That explains why the bed was cold!" Angered, the guard drew a sword and Ashe took advantage. He kicked his bound legs into guard's knee and heard the sickening crack of bone. He then held his ankles up as he fell. The razor sharp blade sliced through the ropes which were now old and worn from months of being on his ankles and wrists. Once his legs were free, the ropes on his wrists loosened and fell away. Immediately the other guard had drawn his sword and pressed for an attack but Ashe was quick, he was determined and he was as deadly as he had ever been. He snatched up the blade of the guard he had kicked and with a yell of defiance he ducked under the blade pointing in his direction and sunk the sword into the man's stomach. He fell with a grunt of pain and Ashe picked up his blade and drove it through the back of the first kicked. Wandering through the hallway of the cells, he was as quiet as knew how to be; sneaking past a few guards who were busy in a corridor with a game of dice. Finally Ashe emerged into the home where he had been taken prisoner. There were no guards in the house. There were none needed because those who would cause trouble were locked away either in the dungeon or outside the walls. Almost all of them at least, Ashe was free now and revenge burned in his heart. He barred the door of the dungeon with a heavy wooden beam, locking away the guards before he sought out Tanair. He took a sword from a suit of armor put on display in the halls of the large house. It wasn't as sharp as Ashe would have liked but it would cleave just as well. He prowled down the hallways of the house like a beast in search of prey and he son found it. Walking through a door way, Ashe found himself in the feast hall. A grand meal of pheasant and potatoes and lamb was laid out before him. At the head of the table was Tanair eating his fill; fattening himself like a farmer did a hog. Ashe roared a warrior's roar and leapt upon the table. He ran down its length and rather than cleave the tyrants head off, Ashe kicked the man in the face and sent his chair tumbling over backward. Tanair crawled away from Ashe as he stepped down from the table, "Don't fear me now!" he roared "You did not before! You shall not now!" Ashe pointed the sword tip to his throat, "I do not beg your mercy and you shall not receive mine!" Ashe raised the sword to cleave Ashe's head off but Tanair drew a sword and thrust it at Ashe in the blink of an eye. The sword would have pierced Ashe's heart but for one reason. The sword belonged to Ashe, the sword known as The Dark Sky. Within its metal rested the soul and power of a mage that had once been a dear friend to Ashe. The blade would not harm its master and for that reason, the sword stopped itself and Tanair's arm from damaging Ashe. With another yell, Ashe hewed the head from Tanair's shoulder. Picking up his own sword, he looked down the length of the blade and smiled to himself. Tears rolled down his cheeks as the hunger for freedom that had been in his heart so long was finally satiated. He took his sword belt and attached to his waist once more. With the hunger for freedom long gone, the hunger for food was there now. It had been so long since he had eaten a full meal. He sat down at his former captors table and ate until his belly swelled. He could hear the guards beating on the door now as he left. But he would not release them. They would stay down there and starve and live in misery just as they had done to him. He pushed the door of the mansion open and he felt the sun on his face for what felt like the first time in years. He was as free as a sparrow, to go where he wished and there was only one place he wished to go. From the gate, two guards watched him dumbstruck, pondering on how he had freed himself. There were many more guards inside the dungeons and he had escaped from them. How would two stop him' Suddenly, they felt fearful for their own lives. They pulled open the gate and they left it open behind them as they ran, their weapons left behind in hopes that Ashe would not pursue two unarmed men. Of course, Ashe had no desire to follow them, he stole a horse and he pointed it south, toward Rhy"Din City. He wanted to go home. ************************************************** ********
Ashe continued to watch the rain fall. The tears began to roll down his cheeks again. So close to death, he could almost hear the call of the Lady, whispered for him to close his eyes and rest his head. But he had refused her call, he had fought when things were darkest and he had won. It felt strange , as if it were all a dream and that he should awake to find himself in that dark chamber once again. How odd freedom felt when you were denied it so long.
************************************************** ********
Coming out of the inn one night, Ashe was on the familiar path home. The night was clear, it was a warm night, nothing out of the ordinary. Whistling an old tune, he was eager to get home to a warm bed, eager to see his love who he hoped was in that warm bed. He smirked to himself, life was good. But as he walked by the road that ran by the river, a strange feeling of danger washed over him. Immediately his hand went to the blade on his belt but the sounds of a cocking gun hammer prevented him from pulling the blade from his sheath. "Hold it right there, boy. "Less you want to lose your life." Ashe narrowed his eyes as a man stepped out of hiding holding a blunderbuss filled with scrap metal and all other sorts of nastiness designed to leave a man in pieces. The man looked as dangerous as his weapon, his gray hair showing age, the scars on his face showing experience in battle. His eyes were a pale blue, much like one would imagine the eyes of Lady Death when she came to collect a soul. "That's right, nothing foolish boy." He stepped close and shoved the flared barrel under Ashe's chin. His free hand slipped the sword belt away from his waist, "Come on out, Telok." The man said without ever taking his eyes or gun from Ashe. With that, a stocky dwarf, black eyed and black bearded stepped out of the brush and took hold Ashe's arms. Fearful of losing his life, Ashe complied and soon enough his hands were bound in front of him. Ashe the whole while stared at the man who held him and soon said, "What is it you want' Gold and Gems?" he figured the man was after something deeper, perhaps now that Ashe was his prisoner, he would reveal some of the mystery to what the man wanted. The man laughed at him, the dwarf doing the same and Ashe found the dwarf's loud laugh to be obnoxious. The man spoke then, "Boy, if I wanted your gold, I would've shot you and taken it off your corpse. The crows would have had the rest." A cruel smile crossed his lips as he finally lowered the weapon, "My name is Roldain Thistledown, and I'm collecting you for the thirty thousand gold pieces on your head." Ashe's jade hues widened in surprise; who would have set such a price on his head" Ashe had not been without his share of enemies in the past, powerful enemies but thirty thousand gold pieces for his capture" Someone wanted him bad that was sure. "Do you know a man named Tanair Andolthwain?" his captor continued as Telok the dwarf now walked him toward some hidden horses. Ashe knew that name well; it was the man who Ashe had taken the most from. Not just gold and jewels but Ashe had disgraced him and the man had lost his position of power in the city of Targos. He had collected unfair taxes from the poor section of the city and Ashe not only exposed the corruption but he had organized the city against Tanair and had him banished from the city stripped of rank and power. He swallowed hard knowing why the price was so high now. Ashe swallowed hard and gave a slow nod. He knew that Tanair would enjoy torturing him and then he would parade the man who had ruined him before anyone who would watch and then execute him the in the worst way. Drawn and quartered or dipped in hot oil, Ashe couldn't help but wonder. "Then you know where we are going and you know what I'm here for. Let's get moving." Telok gave Ashe a rough shove, "Get yer boot up in the saddle, dragon turd!" Ashe did as he was told, all the while thinking of a way to escape. He had been in a number of these tight situations and every time he found his way out of it. Up in the saddle, Ashe looked down in Telok who was dumb enough to turn his back to him as he looked at Roldain and chuckled, "Easy money, bo?" He began to wheeze and choke as Ashe had come back off of the horse and pulled his bound hands around Telok's large throat. Roldain through the blunderbuss to his shoulder but Ashe had ducked down behind the dwarf's wide form, "Let him go, boy, you'll only hurt yourself!" Ashe said nothing; he only pulled his rope choker tighter against the dwarf's neck. Telok's face began to redden and he gurgled out, "Shoot him or me!" Roldain had no problem with that of course. The blunderbuss fired and chunks of scrap metal bit into the dwarf's leather armor and into his skin. Telok fell limp against Ashe and before he could remove his hands from the tangle of the dwarf's beard, Roldain walked up and struck him with the butt of the gun. The world around him faded to black as he lost consciousness. He awoke sometime later, lying with his arms and legs bound not far from where he had been captured. His head throbbed and his vision was a bit blurry from the impact of the gun stock. He looked around to see that morning was breaking through the tree line. Sitting across from him, Roldain was eating strips of dried meat, apparently waiting for him to wake. "Now you wake, now we leave." There was no humor in his voice, only a deadly seriousness that meant there would be no more games. Ashe spat at him, "Shoot me! Shoot me like you did your friend!" The hunter raised a brow and then the cruel smile appeared again, "Telok" He was no friend of mine, simply in my employ, looking for a bit of gold when the job was done. Not a bad man, but sort of stupid. Couldn't believe he turned his back on you. Reckon he got what he deserved and reckon Ill not have to pay him." He stalked over to Ashe and with the reloaded blunderbuss in one hand, he picked Ashe up by the bindings on his hands, "Now Ill need you to be coming along quietly." Ashe's eyes flared in anger, "What if I don't' What if I scream until I'm blue in the face so the city watch will come?" Roldain chuckled darkly at this, "What will I do if you scream' Ill cut your throat so you'll gurgle." His eyes held malice and no fear for killing without fear of consequence, "Then I'll go to see your lady." The anger in Ashe's green eyes faded and fear was seen unhidden in them. Bridget"! How do they know of her" Ashe thought. Roldain recognized the fear in those eyes and he continued on, "Ah, yes, the fiery lass you hold near and dear. You don't think I know of her" You didn't think I would come here without a backup plan did you?" He began to lead Ashe to the horses, "She's a beauty, and I'll give you that. And if you were to get away from me, I'll not pursue you, Ashe. Ill go and see her. I'll have my way with her, as many ways and times as I could think. I even think I'd do the deed on the bed you share with her." Ashe growled under his breath and he imagined how he would kill this man if his hands were free. The man lifted Ashe up onto the horse and tied his bound hands to the saddle horn. Ashe complied now, only because he was afraid that Bridget would be hurt because of his past. Inwardly, Ashe damned himself for the things he had done that led to this. He wasn't the least bit apologetic for helping the people of Targos, but suddenly he wished that he had killed Tanair Andolthwain. Roldain mounted his own horse; Ashe's horse tied behind it and set off through the forest. The journey to Andolthwain manor had taken almost two months. The only time that Ashe's hands had been free from his bonds had been to eat what Roldain gave him. And what Roldain had given him had only been enough to keep him from starving. Eating and to relieve himself when he had to. Of course, he spent his time eating and relieving himself with a blunderbuss barrel pointed in his direction. That was where he had gained the scars on his wrists. Andolthwain manor was large, larger than any home he had ever seen in his life. High wall surrounded the complex and the place seemed as if it were almost a small fortress. Roldain nodded to the guards who opened the large gate doors and let them pass through. Inside, the place was no less impressive. A large courtyard, decorated with fruit trees and flower gardens stood before him and beyond that was a grand house, made of marble and granite. On the marble steps stood a man with his hands clasped behind his back and wicked grin painted on his lips. "Tanair," Ashe whispered to himself, recognizing the man instantly. Tanair was a man that looked like a noble with long golden hair and blue eyes that made the ladies swoon. But those blue eyes held something deeper, malice intended for Ashe. Roldain dismounted and drug Ashe down from his mount, pushing him into the grass covered ground before Tanair, "There he is, my lord. Yours as soon as I get paid." Roldain's lit up greedily as he waited to be paid. Tanair looked at Roldain, the wicked grin never having left his features, "Of course, hunter. I think I shall even give you an extra ten thousand in gold for bringing him so quickly." His voice was icy and cruel. Roldain's covetous smile looked as if it would stretch to his ears as he thought of all the gold. He would live out his years in luxury. The finest food and the finest women; it would all be his. "Give the man what he is due," he gestured to the armed men who now stood behind Roldain. Roldain began to turn but a blade burst out of his chest, driven deep through his back. "Y-y-you lying dog!" was all Roldain could growl before he slumped to the ground dead. Tanair only smiled his mad smile as his gaze drifted from the dead bounty hunter to Ashe lie on the ground before him. He knelt before the bound thief and said, "When I'm finished with you, you'll wish for death. You'll scream for my mercy and Ill scream back, "NO!?" He rose up and nodded to his armed guard, "Take him to the dungeons." Ashe spent many weeks in those dungeons, deprived of food, water and sunlight. The only light to be found was a single torch that illuminated the hallway by the prison cells. Ashe spent those weeks believing he would die, believing that he would not wake each time he fell asleep. Soon he lost track of time, not knowing when was morning and when was night. He was fed enough to keep him alive. Any extra water was the moisture that would sometimes trickle through the stone ceiling on what Ashe guessed was a rainy day. The worst of it was the beatings. Sometimes they would take him from his cell to another room. Bound face down to an inclined table, they would take whips and chains to his back. Beat him until he bled and meat was sometimes torn away. They would throw him back in his cell and eye him to make sure that he didn't die. Sometimes a host of guards would enter his cell and while two held him; one would punch and kick him until he fell unconscious. Tanair Aldothwain stood and watched every moment of his torture. This endured until the beginning of spring, and Ashe knew that one the day he received no beating that his time was short. Ashe knew the beatings would have continued for a while longer but for one reason. Ashe had refused to cry out in pain for his captors. This angered Tanair to no end. He had flinched and his eyes had welled in tears of pain but never did he cry out. For every time he was being struck, his mind would wander to another place. Back home to a grassy meadow outside Rhy"Din City. Lying next to the redheaded pirate who had stolen his heart in his mind's eye, the pain seemed to affect him less. Even when he was alone in the darkness of his cell, he would often think of the woman he loved dearly. She was the sunlight where there was none. A few days passed without the beatings. He was certain that they wanted him to heal enough to experience the full extent of the pain during his execution. Feeling that Lady Death was on her way now to take his soul to the next world, Ashe decided that he would not go without a one last battle. He wanted to fight Tanair and his followers; he did no wish to go willingly to death. He heard the guards coming that morning. He knew that this morning was his morning, whether for good or bad, this was his morning. A pair of guards pulled open the iron door of his cell and entered and Ashe began, "Morning, guard. I trust your mother slept well?" The guard sneered at him, "My mother is dead, trash, you will not speak ill of her!" But Ashe continued, "That explains why the bed was cold!" Angered, the guard drew a sword and Ashe took advantage. He kicked his bound legs into guard's knee and heard the sickening crack of bone. He then held his ankles up as he fell. The razor sharp blade sliced through the ropes which were now old and worn from months of being on his ankles and wrists. Once his legs were free, the ropes on his wrists loosened and fell away. Immediately the other guard had drawn his sword and pressed for an attack but Ashe was quick, he was determined and he was as deadly as he had ever been. He snatched up the blade of the guard he had kicked and with a yell of defiance he ducked under the blade pointing in his direction and sunk the sword into the man's stomach. He fell with a grunt of pain and Ashe picked up his blade and drove it through the back of the first kicked. Wandering through the hallway of the cells, he was as quiet as knew how to be; sneaking past a few guards who were busy in a corridor with a game of dice. Finally Ashe emerged into the home where he had been taken prisoner. There were no guards in the house. There were none needed because those who would cause trouble were locked away either in the dungeon or outside the walls. Almost all of them at least, Ashe was free now and revenge burned in his heart. He barred the door of the dungeon with a heavy wooden beam, locking away the guards before he sought out Tanair. He took a sword from a suit of armor put on display in the halls of the large house. It wasn't as sharp as Ashe would have liked but it would cleave just as well. He prowled down the hallways of the house like a beast in search of prey and he son found it. Walking through a door way, Ashe found himself in the feast hall. A grand meal of pheasant and potatoes and lamb was laid out before him. At the head of the table was Tanair eating his fill; fattening himself like a farmer did a hog. Ashe roared a warrior's roar and leapt upon the table. He ran down its length and rather than cleave the tyrants head off, Ashe kicked the man in the face and sent his chair tumbling over backward. Tanair crawled away from Ashe as he stepped down from the table, "Don't fear me now!" he roared "You did not before! You shall not now!" Ashe pointed the sword tip to his throat, "I do not beg your mercy and you shall not receive mine!" Ashe raised the sword to cleave Ashe's head off but Tanair drew a sword and thrust it at Ashe in the blink of an eye. The sword would have pierced Ashe's heart but for one reason. The sword belonged to Ashe, the sword known as The Dark Sky. Within its metal rested the soul and power of a mage that had once been a dear friend to Ashe. The blade would not harm its master and for that reason, the sword stopped itself and Tanair's arm from damaging Ashe. With another yell, Ashe hewed the head from Tanair's shoulder. Picking up his own sword, he looked down the length of the blade and smiled to himself. Tears rolled down his cheeks as the hunger for freedom that had been in his heart so long was finally satiated. He took his sword belt and attached to his waist once more. With the hunger for freedom long gone, the hunger for food was there now. It had been so long since he had eaten a full meal. He sat down at his former captors table and ate until his belly swelled. He could hear the guards beating on the door now as he left. But he would not release them. They would stay down there and starve and live in misery just as they had done to him. He pushed the door of the mansion open and he felt the sun on his face for what felt like the first time in years. He was as free as a sparrow, to go where he wished and there was only one place he wished to go. From the gate, two guards watched him dumbstruck, pondering on how he had freed himself. There were many more guards inside the dungeons and he had escaped from them. How would two stop him' Suddenly, they felt fearful for their own lives. They pulled open the gate and they left it open behind them as they ran, their weapons left behind in hopes that Ashe would not pursue two unarmed men. Of course, Ashe had no desire to follow them, he stole a horse and he pointed it south, toward Rhy"Din City. He wanted to go home. ************************************************** ********
Ashe continued to watch the rain fall. The tears began to roll down his cheeks again. So close to death, he could almost hear the call of the Lady, whispered for him to close his eyes and rest his head. But he had refused her call, he had fought when things were darkest and he had won. It felt strange , as if it were all a dream and that he should awake to find himself in that dark chamber once again. How odd freedom felt when you were denied it so long.