The Poet's Resolve I
It had not been the first ti he had considered murdering her.
Haldrych Aldan slumped in his silver inlaid chair, scowling at the burning fireplace. A letter of introduction curled and blackened as fla consud the parchnt to a husk. The wax seal of the Gontrude family boiled, hissed, and lted away.
Shadows writhed about the corners of the bed chamber, matching the darkness of the young mans mood. His soft fingers played along a sword balanced on his knees, saring the mirrored finish. The blades bronze edge shone - pristine and unmarred - never having struck beast nor foe.
His other hand, untouched by callous, toyed with a silver goblet filled with Olubrian wine. Hed ordered it heated over the kitchen fires for exactly fifty heartbeats, and brought to his chambers at a run.
Words in Laexondaelic weaved across papyrus stacked beside the goblet; poems of great deeds told with uninspired words. Each ode ended in his sigil and signature.
Thump. Thump.
A gentle knock ca from the door.
Haldrych? A womans soft voice called.
His scowl deepened. What? Do you wish to gloat after ruining my life?
A wounded silence followed.
His eyes shot to the arms adorning the stone walls: bronze swords, spears, shields and daggers polished to perfection by the servants. His lip curled.
He longed to wash every blade with that womans blood.
Haldrych, my sweet boy, the plaintive voice ca again. I only wish to know what I can do to make you feel better-
I think youve done enough! He leapt to his feet, draining the goblet, and slamd it onto a side table. Pulling on his cloak, he stomped past the fireplace. The letter had turned to ash.
He threw the door open.
A startled woman gasped in the entryway. Her greying hair shook as her slight fra recoiled. Her hand had been outstretched toward the door.
I am leaving! he snapped, pushing past her.
Where are you going, Haldrych? Ill call for an escort-
Im no blushing babe! Leave be!
But the killings! The womans brown eyes grew wide. Haldrych, the streets are not safe- She reached for him.
Do not touch , mother! he slapped her hand away and brushed past her into the hall.
A low whimper followed him.
He neither turned, nor glanced back.
The winter air raked Haldrychs face with its frosty bite, burning his nostrils. He pulled a white rabbit-pelt hat over his ears and spurred his stallion onward. Faster, Marctinus.
The handso beast broke into a trot, his gold-shod hooves glinting through the white they kicked up. His breath misted in the air like dragon smoke. The proud steed had been a gift from Haldrychs mother: purchased during the sumr horse market for a lords ransom.
Its silky coat glimred like silver as its hoofs pounded through the snow, echoing in the empty silence. His masters jewelry shook beneath furs of ermine and white fox, all bought by his mother from the finest stone-setters and furriers in Laexondael. His gold-hilted dagger glinted upon his belt.
The Heir of House Aldan thought he cut a fine figure, yet there were none to see him in the moonlight and thickness of night. He glanced about the empty street. Grand stone houses frad it with their courtyards barred by bronzed gates. Snow caked the road. Icicles lanced down from overhangs of stone and timber.
A pair of lean crows squabbled over refuse pulped into the frozen ground. They were the only other life about.
Haldrych looked toward the city centre through drifting lines of chimney smoke.
In the distance, the crescent moon hung over Duke Kirinius' castle, rising from an escarpnt so vast that it filled the night sky. The mountain peaks north of the city - the most southern tip of the Midaggar Mountains - seed its twin. The fortress sat unyielding atop the summit, watching its people from cloudy heights.
Unbidden, rumours of the recent killings returned to Haldrychs mind.
The young poet scowled, patted his scabbard, and drew himself to his full height in the saddle.
He was Heir to House Aldan. His bloodline reached back to the Tigrisian centurions.
He would not fear.
Even as he thought this, he spurred Marctinus to a quicker pace.
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