Horv woke from his sleep. His bed was empty, the covers thrown aside as if someone had gotten up in a rush. He got up and stretched before putting on his tunic and pants from the day prior. He walked out of his room. He was on the second floor.
The second floor was quite small with only two rooms. It was simply a thin wooden platform. He took a step and the floorboards creaked. He began making his way down the stairs hearing an odd murmur coming from the living room. He walked down the stairs and turned as he saw a woman rocking in a wooden chair. Every time the chair rocked loud creaks and snaps would echo through his brain.
He had been having enough trouble as is and hearing that same noise every day for fourteen years has been increasing his agitation, but just like every day he ignored it. He walked to the kitchen and made himself some tea. He went back to the living room and sat down in his own chair, looking at the fireplace as he drank his tea. He looked over at the woman as she coddled a portrait in her hands mumbling to herself.
"It's ok baby," she said as she rocked in the wooden chair, creaking echoing in the empty chamber, "mommy is here sweetie it's ok."
Horv stood up after he finished his tea and set his cup in the kitchen ready to be used the next day after briefly rinsing it. He went back upstairs to change into his uniform. He combed his black hair slightly. He looked at the counter and saw his wedding ring. He put it in a drawer then left the house.
He lived near the castle in a special villa he had asked to be made against the king's wish. Horv never listened to the king; he didn't have to. He practically ran the country as knights held more power and respect than the crown. Although he respected the king. He almost always listened to his concerns and together tried to find ways to make sure the kingdom stayed in their grasp.
He went to his stable and took out his favorite horse he named Andrew. He lifted himself and got on top of it before riding towards the castle. After about an hour he made it to the front gate of the castle. The guards didn't waste any time opening it as they panicked at the sight of Horv. Horv went through the gate walking down the castle halls. The maids and servants greeted him kindly fearing the punishment if they didn't. Horv graciously returned the greeting. Horv in fact appreciated all the maids and servants' work. Without them he knew how messy the castle would be, and it would cause him such irritation he would do something nonsensical.
He continued walking down the grand halls of the castle until he reached the courtyard. Since it was no longer the Knights graduation it was filled with many foot soldiers training under the watchful eye of Alym and Gyrell. He watched them from a distance. He took in every step of the foot soldiers. The coordination and synchronization of each soldier filled him with ecstasy. He couldn't help but let out a small smile. He enjoyed his job. It was a break. A break from her. A break from the annoying sound he heard everyday.
He clenched his hand. Angered surged out of him from the mere thought of the woman and her chair. Coddling that portrait. Why couldn't she just let it go? It's been fourteen years.
Horv looked at a foot soldier who froze instantly as the rest continued their training. He looked at the boy intently. It was obvious he was a new recruit looking like he barely broke nineteen years old. Eighteen was the minimum age to join the Fringhelm army, but many didn't join till their twenties due to the army being their final chance for income.
"Come here." Horv said sternly to the man. The boy reluctantly walked towards him. Once he got close enough Horv grabbed him pulling him close to his face. His face got red as he began to whisper in his ear, "Tell me your name."
"I- it's William."
"Willian, answer me. If you died, how would your mother feel?"
William shook at the question worried of his intentions, "V- very sad sir."
Horv let go of him, his face still red although spoke more calmly, "Would you say fourteen years of grieving?"
William shrugged, his body shaking and eyes unmoving from Horv as he stared at him in fear, "I don't know sir. C- can I just go? Please? General sir."
Horv nodded as he watched William scramble over to the rest of his soldiers. Horv looked at them for a few minutes before deciding to leave. He walked towards the throne room as a knight stood in front of the door. He recognized them as an elite knight. They always hung around the front of the throne room. It wasn't her post, but she enjoyed standing there. Horv never understood why. He wouldn't ask though. For it wasn't his place to question such powerful beings.
In the center stood the woman. She wore the basic tunic and trousers with leather boots, but she did not have a mantle. Her face had a scar then went down from her eye to her neck. One eye was red while the other was cloudy. She was blind from her left eye. Despite her scar she still had a pretty face as the scar only gave her more character. She had short black hair that stopped at her shoulder. She was of medium stature, although she was closing in on the tall side. Her body was toned and her skin was white almost pale.
Horv looked at her and she moved out of the way to let him enter. Horv pushed open the massive doors revealing the grand throne room. It was long with intricate designs littering the walls. Paintings of the conception of the universe were hung all through the walls as light poured from the massive red stained glass windows. All the way at the end of the hallway sat a grand throne, and sat on it was the king.
Horv approached him as the king looked down at him. He wasn't very old, being around his fifties. He was human, his eyes were dark blue and his hair was grey and black. His hair was short almost to the point of being bald. His face had a few wrinkles and his eyes were drowsy. He had a salt and pepper beard. He rested his head on his hand on the armrest of his throne.
"So Horv tell me how's the situation down at Luvena?" The king said as he began to sit up straight.
"I sent off a group of knights. Some of which you might recognize." Horv said as he stood next to him.
"Oh really? Who might they be?" asked the king, intrigued.
Horv smirked as he looked the king in the eyes, "A couple of boys from the Fiducia family."
The king grimaced as he glared at Horv, "Damn it. They never can just stay put as nobles. Always have to join the knights."
"I told you it wasn't a good idea Lythan, yet you still sent out the order." Horv said.
"I stand by my choice, those monsters were out for him anyways." said Lythan, the king.
Horv shrugged and remained quiet for a few moments before he turned to Lythan and spoke, "So tell me you have any idea who can be behind these attacks?"
The king nodded, "Very good idea… Eldrim."
Horv scoffed, "Eldrim? That bastard is dead, we made sure of that."
Lythan glared at him, "You know damn well that man is beyond the concept of death. He's crazy. At this rate we'll fall into his hands soon. Heck he might have already played all his cards. We need to find him soon. I don't know where he could be hiding. He's gotten some of our knights to work for him. We're so fucked."
Horv nodded slightly, "I suppose he might have. Doesn't help that we have no control over our knights actions. Why does he even want Fringhelm?"
"Solely because he can," said Lythan, "Ever since we were children he'd kill and steal. Not because he needed it, but because he could. He wants power because he knows he can have it."
Lythan's face grew solemn as he thought about Eldrim. His cousin was insane. He knew he'd come soon to kill him and burn the kingdom to ash.
They went silent again before Lythan broke it, "So tell me how's your wife?"
"The woman is fine," said Horv, "Although I can't stand her any longer."
Lythan nodded, "Yeah I figured as much."
Horv started to walk out of the throne room, "I'll tell you if we find anything else about Eldrim, as of now the stasis remains stable. As long as we keep it that way we'll all be fine."
Lythan nodded, "I have notified a few of the other kingdoms of our predicament. They said they'd send a few of their forces to search as well. Alium reported that their most wanted criminal fled here with his team consisting of his brother and an unidentified woman. They said he was an Ice holder. I say it's safe to assume he's our guy for Luvena."
Horv nodded, "I have faith in those Fiducia boys. After all, their family has never failed us before. Never once. It's just that they all degenerate eventually."
The doors closed as the scar woman looked at him as he left, "Goodbye Horv." she said.
"Goodbye Lidon." Horv responded.
He rode back home on his horse, Andrew. When he arrived it was dark. Nothing illuminated the outside of his villa as he heard the sounds of mosquitos buzzing around him. He opened the front door with a quiet creak. He closed it as all that illuminated the house was a fireplace in the center. He heard the creaking of the chair as it rocked back and forth. He heard the unintelligible ramblings of his wife. His wife. He hadn't thought of her like that for twelve years. She was merely a nuisance. He walked over to her as she was dimly lit by the fire. He stared at her as she continued to rock the portrait in her hand. Creak. The chair rocked. Creak. The chair rocked again. Creak. Again the chair rocked. Again and again and again. That same creak. It echoed through his mind. The words she mumbled to herself swirled in his head. He couldn't think.
He stared down at her in utter disgust. Creak. He looked down at the portrait. Creak. His hand began to drift towards her. Creak. He grabbed the portrait gently. Creak. He pulled it away. The woman immediately lunged out of her chair yelling and screaming. Her skin was grey and thin. Her face was sunken from malnutrition. She began to claw at him as she yelled in his face.
"Give him back! Give him back to me!" She yelled frantically. She bit into Horv's hand to loosen his grip as he yelled in pain, dropping the portrait as the glass in the frame broke. She immediately scrambled to get it, but due to her decrepit state she was too slow as Horv picked it up and kicked her in the mouth. She was too weak to handle such force as her skin cut and her mouth began to bleed. She continued to bawl in pain and sorrow.
"You stupid bitch!" Horv yelled his eyes widening mad, "Fourteen fucking years! He's been dead for fourteen years, woman! Look at you! Dammit Look at yourself! Let our son be dead!"
Horv looked down at her and sighed. He picked her up and wiped her mouth, "I'm sorry sweetheart… You know I love you right?"
She whimpered in his arms and nodded as she continued to weep. She shook in his arms, "Go to bed dear." said Horv calmly and softly. She nodded and slowly began to walk up the stairs, her body shaking and thin.
Horv looked down at the portrait. It was of him with his son. A painting they did the day he became a knight. It was a small painting small enough to fit in the small frame which was now shattered. He looked at the fireplace then back at the portrait. He took one last look at his son before smiling, tossing it into the fire. He watched as it burned for a few moments before he went up stairs and went to bed next to his wife.
He awoke the next morning, bed empty. The covers were thrown to the side as if someone was in a rush. He got out of bed and stretched before putting on his tunic and pants from the day before. He walked out of his room on the second floor. He stepped on the floorboards and he heard no noise. He made his way down stairs each step he took, the house remained silent. He didn't hear any sound from the living room minus the sound of cackling flames from the fire.
It felt odd to him as he walked to the kitchen and didn't hear a single sound. He made himself some tea. He poured it into the cup and sat in the living room. He took a sip and looked at the rocking chair. It was empty. No sound emanating from it. He looked at the fireplace.
He took a sip. He saw her idle. The smell of burning flesh hit his nose as he watched. Her head was in the fireplace as her body was limp. Next to her was the frame. It was burnt, and the portrait was gone. He looked at her dead body a bit longer as he kept drinking his tea. It was finally silent. He closed his eyes in peace. Creak. Horv opened his eyes. The rocking chair had moved. He turned around to look. A man sat there, purple scythe at his side. He looked into Horv's eyes and smiled. All Horv felt was an odd wetness that landed on his head before it all went silent once again.