Atop a lengthy and sturdy table that extended far beyond the seats of those currently dining over its surface, a lone man stood out as he fed elegantly on the warm and delicious food in his plate, occasionally sipping from the goblet at his side that held a crimson liquid.
As for his appearance, his physical stature alone would require a ballad that sang of his lustrous, flowing burgundy hair that only halted their descent at his shoulders, a tall frame that demanded for his seat to be different from that of others even at the dining table, robust muscles that bulged like swells under beige coloured skin on every part of his body that did not taste cloth and rough little hairs with a light red hue which grew atop his flesh like grasses.
Over his heart-shaped face, hooded eyes with a marble grey sheen could be seen along with a button nose below that twitched from time to time as he passed food into his mouth that was enclosed by a light stubble.
Trodden's saliva slid down his throat all at once as he gazed upon this man.
He had expected to see an old, cruel face with malice brimming in its eyes, but the Stars as his witness, this reveal granted him great surprise.
This sentiment grew as he saw the fair, dark-haired young woman that sat at his side, now gazing upon him with a blank face along with the two boys, one with reddish hair and another with hair as dark as the night.
With Trodden's arrival, the family paused their dinner as they all stared at his figure that was made to lie down at a distance where he could see the lord of the Hold clearly.
"Dear, what have your men brought into our house?" the woman at Balgruum's side inquired as she turned to her husband. Her upturned ocean blue eyes and high cheek bones gave a false impression as to her mood, but enhanced the beauty that lay on her face.
The tall man sat his utensils down, his eyes remaining pinned on Trodden with a hushed light.
"A peculiar art piece has been brought to my feet, dear. Take the children and retire to your quarters," a boisterous and commanding voice akin to a waterfall bolstered by thunder reverberated from Balgruum's mouth.
"Yes, dear," the woman at his side said, promptly standing up and facing the two boys that had been curiously eyeing Trodden, telling them it was time to leave.
Strangely, Trodden could not see a tainted light in these children's eyes as with those from outside.
They seemed to bear the true innocence of their youth, blameless and without a wretched air like the others.
The two boys were taken away by their mother, exiting out the other side of the spacious room.
"My lord," Derrecks finally addressed, for he knew better than to speak matters concerning the Hold when the lord's beloved and his children were present. "I have found a truly amusing young man from among the ranks of the slaves. I do not know what possesses him, nor which Star his serves, but the strength he exhibits is profound."
Throughout all that had occurred so far, Balgruum's eyes never left Trodden, which caused no small amount of fear to churn within the young man.
From this man originated the pressure that he had felt outside!
It was stifling and heavy, challenging his will.
How easy it was for the strong to cripple the will of the weak.
Trodden was continuously fed an aura of fear that kept him docile in front of this man and what more, it seemed to be subdued.
"I see..." Balgruum said as he leaned forward, pushing aside the wooden plate that had the remains of an expertly fried bird with a side of cherry tomatoes and what looked like finely boiled grain. "That is high praise coming from you, Derrecks. Yet, that does not seem to suffice as a reason to bring this to me at the dark of the day."
"Indeed, my lord. However, I'm convinced that the full account of what this man did today would appeal to your interest. He shattered one of our men's head with but a blow from his fist after he devoured the man's eye."
Balgruum's eye flickered with hints of emotion.
"Is that so?"
Trodden's eyes shook.
"Boy. Tell me," Balgruum said. "Where do you wish to direct all that rage that cowers before me?"
...!
Trodden's heart raced frantically.
He was being read like a book.
No words escaped from his mouth to answer the question that had fallen upon his ears.
He could not speak.
For the monstrous presence of the giant before him demanded that he wither in fear.
Trodden conjured the images that caused him the most angst. The burning, the screaming and the chaos he remembered.
They had granted him the strength to live on before and he hoped they would bolster his courage.
He sought for the strength that came from the dark well of revenge but found none that could compete against the unruly, yet regal presence of Balgruum the Unblooded, a man said to have never bled on the battlefield.
"You have arisen for vengeance, have you not? Why do you wither before me when you clearly have the strength to contend?" Balgruum asked.
"..." Trodden could produce naught an answer but sweat.
The soldiers behind him scoffed and leered.
For they saw only a spineless coward now over the man who had never flinched from their whips before.
It was not unfounded that they would support their master in belittling Trodden.
In all truth, however, it did not seem like Balgruum degraded Trodden with the same intent as they.
He genuinely appeared displeased with Trodden's disposition as it contrasted his so heavily before his rise.
"I see your turbulent emotion. Slaying a single man has shaken you quite well. This tells me a great deal. My lord once told me that those wrought with vengeance are the most dangerous opponents. I took this lesson to heart and culled all the seeds planted by sworn revenge. Men, women and children that sought to return the favour, all fell before me. I slew the phrase 'an eye for an eye.' However, over time, I learnt not to waste such resources so pettily."
"I harnessed those numbers under my feet to build this Hold instead of claiming those thousands of lives that came before you. I merely had to shatter their wills and leave them as ghosts who serve me, and in turn, my lord."
The thousands before him, he said.
Trodden's mind raced.
There had been thousands of slaves prior to him and the others?
How long a time did that detail?
How much death did that suggest?
"However, from you, eater of human flesh. I sense a threat. A strange well of power rests in you. It is hollow and void, save for a single lump that flickers from my sense. Though you lack the will to kill me, it may grow with time. I shall not spare your life if you are not eager to fight for it nor fulfill its purpose," Balgruum said before he turned to Derrecks.
"Prepare for tomorrow the Weeping of Bloods at the Crown of Rot. Have the men gather all we need and a small audience. I shall rend this coward's flesh and offer it to my lord for the sacrifice."
...!
Trodden's breathing and heart rate hastened.
His life was already forfeit?
Just like that?
Instinctively, he opened his mouth, his intention being to beg for his life but he held himself.
When had his heart grown so weak?
When had he begun to fear death?
Was it when he had first tasted pain a few hours ago?
Trodden shuddered.
'Why?! Why has it suddenly turned to this?!' he raged in his mind as his eyes watered.
Derrecks looked at Balgruum with concern, voicing his thoughts in the next moment.
"The Weeping of Bloods? But my lord, several seasons are due before half a decade passes. Is it proper to conduct the ceremony before then? Would you risk going outside the walls before the time is ripe?"
The tall man rested back on his seat and for the first time, his gaze turned from Trodden.
"I feel it, Derrecks. The Firebred. They intend to launch their assault soon. For that, we shall renew our strength before the time and give our lord our price early. He will be pleased by an anomaly like this one without a normal constitution for an evolved shadow."
Derrecks nodded with a bow, his worry dissipating somewhat.
Balgruum turned to Trodden once more and spoke his final words.
"Prepare yourself. I will shatter your vengeful soul in a last bout before I send it to my lord. Bring your courage when we meet at burning light. For even the Stars will be watching from afar."
Those words etched themselves in Trodden's mind and he forgot to breathe for a moment.
The soldiers dragged him away from the presence of Balgruum while he was still in shock, suffocated by the presence akin to that of a King.
Trodden's awareness only returned when they had fully left the dining hall and as he was about to turn to look at Balgruum's image for a final time of this day, something else caught his eye to his right.
He only saw it for just shy of two breaths but the detail of this object etched itself into his mind.
A large battle axe was stuck to the walls of a certain room.
It had a long and thick haft which looked to be made of rough wood that still featured grey bark from the tree which it was taken.
Its shape was a bit crooked but it looked sturdy nonetheless with a sharp pommel that made the axe look more like an urgosh.
The blade looked to specifically be made for murder of all variations with its gleaming edge and jagged heel, all in a twilight fog hue.
The steel of the blade and the wood of the haft melded together in a strange mix that made it look like the most natural creation in Leastria, all this detail making Trodden wonder...
Was this Balgruum's weapon?
Was this what would rend his flesh and shatter his vengeful soul?
The question had no answer rendered to it as Trodden was silently dragged away.
He saw the huge mansion vanish from his sight as they exited through the grand doors, leaving behind the imposing statues that seemed to be a gesture representing Balgruum's avid and apparent love for weaponry.
From the beauty of the grand residence of the terrifying lord, Trodden was lead towards the barracks of the soldiers through the Hold.
The cheer and merry of the denizens of the Hold who danced around fires in the night, others sinking themselves in the pleasures that unfurled from their bodies, heavily contrasted with the thick cloud of sombreness that shrouded him.
This was made even more apparent when he saw the next stop, which was vastly different from the lord's mansion and separated from the rest of the Hold by a good distance like the Watering Hole.
A cluster of blocked structures, some of which rose high and others which stayed on the ground were in their own corner of the Hold.
Jeers and shouts could be heard as men that donned linothorax armour, ever ready for a fight sat, stood or lay down.
Others sharpened their weapons while others hurried to and fro in orderly mannerisms that emphasised their higher ranks from the riff raff.
The soldiers that pulled Trodden came to a halt under Derrecks' orders as soon as they reached the barracks.
The bald-headed man with a half charred face raised his voice to garner the attention of the masses.
"LISTEN MEN!" he called, the flow of his words blowing away the dust from him and onto his subordinates.
"THE DAY WHEN WE RENEW OUR MIGHT HAS COME EARLY! TOMORROW, WHEN THE SUN SCALES ITS HIGHEST, WE SHALL SEE OUR MASTER AGAIN!"
With those words, the men and women cheered aloud as they rose, Trodden's spirit being crushed once again.