—–———————————————–——————————————————
The unofficial duel had begun
*Cliing*
With little time for preparation, Heimrich had closed the gap with the stunned guard, delivering a harrowing blow.
Whether through luck or instinct the guard regained his senses and put the shaft between himself and the war hammer while retreating in fear.
The shaft creaked under the blow but fulfilled its job as an excellent weapon.
Heimrich, unperturbed repeatedly advanced keeping up the pressure with slower but stronger swings.
Left, right
Left, right.
In four blows the shaft was terribly warped. The two swings the guard managed to get through mattered not due to a skillful interruption and a step-in dodge.
"Why quake in your boots guardsman?" With a swing as ferocious as his voice Heimrich blew the disparaged weapon out of the grip of the guard.
The cornered man let out a desperate yell. Running he leaned low for a tackle.
"Do you fear for your life?" Heimrich asked head tilted in mockery hammer head low, crossing his body.
With a savage swiftness, Heimrich went yard on the guard's armored shoulder.
*Impact*
"Aaaaaaaarrggh"
*Whimpering*
"Then you should have feared for it before this day." Breathlessly Heimrich continued.
"Please Spare me, aaaaggh, I was forced to let them in. They have my family! They have my family! Aaaaaaah."
"Ah, and the little traitor sings...they have your family?"
"Y-y-yes lord Heimrich. they sent me wife's finger with their threat and I've only seen them once more since then and only after I agreed to this treachery."
"What are their names?"
"Delilah, Felicia, Rees and Malmut"
"Good, good, good. If they still live I will rescue them—"
"Thank you! Thank you so much for your magnanimity mi'lord. I have no expectation for a good death but they deserve none of what's happened to them."
*Bang–crack*
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" An earsplitting scream tore through the somber night.
Heimrich positively destroyed the spluttering man's formerly intact left hand.
"The nerve. A sniveling parasite would dare to interrupt me and impose upon me? I would have rescued your lot and branded them as a lineage of cravens to walk the land but now...now I will give them relief." The overwhelming malevolence in Heimrich's eyes transformed into madness.
"Take pride guardsman, for yours will become a line of noble blood." Now even the surrounding guards were confused.
Heimrich got closer, removed the helmet form his head and pulled him up by his hair.
"As of this cursed night I as the only heir to my parents have become the duke owning all in the realm."
"When I find your lot I will execute your children."
"No, no, no, no, no."
"The wench... I'll pardon her after having men do unspeakable things to her."
"You demon! Aaaaaaaaaaaaah"
"After she has labored I will leave her to her own fate."
"Be happy."
With that he swung the hammer and pulverized the broken guard's head.
Right after he gagged and wept. Finally grieving over his immense loss.