Disclaimer: Mount & Blade is owned by Tales World, I am merely using this as a whetstone to create a small world of my own.
AN: This will later (if not soon) collaborate with Tale of Ansaldo, offering a different perspective to things, as well as introducing a unique character having their own story. There will be language, and perhaps other things will come to be, hence the rating. I will appreciate constructive criticism, and reviews would be really encouraging. Thanks!
Prologue
The Rhodok Sergeant. Standing at the foremost of any respectable Rhodok army, any lesser man would tremble at their presence. Suited with heraldic mail, they bear their banners proudly on both their chests and shields, and many long to stand with them. But as with all prestigious positions, not everyone can become a Sergeant; a superior physical prowess, tenacity, and sense of perseverance must be endowed upon a man to become as such. But there are exceptions to this decree, and some will stand taller than even those who are already distinguished! This is the tale of the Sergeant…
Angry lightning flashed amongst the weeping rain, illuminating the bodies of a couple. The malefactor finding what he wanted hurriedly left the scene, leaving his misdeed exposed to the elements, bleeding out on the cobblestone. Just as he left, a silhouette crept from the alleyway. In shock, the child sank down on their knees and began to wail. Shouts were heard, and soon townsfolk huddled around the bodies, whispering amongst themselves as to who would commit such a crime, and one fell from the group, searching for the townsguard.
A pair of guardsmen rushed over, and upon seeing the scene started. "Shite Giulio!" Matt cursed angrily.
Giulio looked on the scene with disgust, "That's the third murder this month" he threw up his hands in disgust. The rain poured on relentlessly, and the torches hissed at the forbidden touch. The wailing went on unabated and the people shifted around nervously. Matt craned his neck to see the source of the noise and cursed his short stature.
With a growl of displeasure the otherwise similarly disposed Giulio went forward, "Out of the way folks, I need to see this". With a hush, the crowd parted, and the pair examined the bodies more closely. The source of the wailing was shown to be a child, and Giulio gritted his teeth angrily.
Matt knelt beside the bodies, noting bitterly that their hands were intertwined. "A couple," he suggested.
"Aye," Giulio agreed, "And a child to boot. Probably their kid." The-child-turned-orphan looked up at them cautiously, and seeing them rise from their positions and not doing anything more, the child took up the wailing again. With a flare of temper, Giulio roared, "Shut up, shut up, shut up! You damned brat can't you see we are all as tired as you are! Your parents were unlucky and misfortunate, and I tell you now it would be better that no one would ever be able to hear from you again!"
The people flinched at the outburst and Matteo looked at him with horror. "Giulio! He just lost his parents! Be a little bit more sympathetic, won't you?"
The crowd began to take up whispering again, and Giulio gave them the evil eye. "Look Matteo, you know as well as I do that we all," gesturing towards everyone, "have been stressed about this! My temper is just frayed as of now, but I won't apologize." Matteo shook his head in disgust and went off to fetch the Bailiff.
Giulio felt a slight twist in his gut, and he knelt down beside the kid who by now had long remained silent. "Listen here", Giulio began awkwardly, "I know you just lost your parents, but I'm a little angry right now. So I'd like to just apologize if you would accept it?" The child just stared at him. Flushing angrily, Giulio stood up. "Very well then you brat, have it your way!"
Scoffing with disgust, Giulio walked away from the crowds, to brush shoulders with the gravedigger. A rush of people followed him, including the Bailiff and Matteo. The Bailiff made eye contact and seized his arm. "What's the situation!" he snarled. Giulio shifted uncomfortably.
"Matteo probably told you better then I did, but there was another murder of a couple," Giulio said. With a nod, the Bailiff made to move forward but stopped when Giulio continued, "There was also a child." The Bailiff stiffened, and Giulio hurriedly said "Alive, sir. But I think his parents were killed."
The Bailiff relaxed, "What's your name son?"
"Giulio", he coolly responded, "And I'm no son."
The Bailiff simply laughed at that, "Son," he said, ignoring the distaste on Giulio's face, "When you are my age, everyone is 'son'." Walking onwards, he called off behind him, "Matt, you and Giulio take a break, and from what I've heard, Giulio needs it". Chuckling at the glare Giulio gave to Matt, the Bailiff's visage hardened, set to the task ahead.
"Bah!" Giulio barked with gusto, slammed his tankard down on the bar. Both innkeeper and Matteo looked at him warily, and the innkeeper was displeased with having to serve them so late at night.
"Giulio…" Matteo began, but leaned back when Giulio fiercely looked at him. His brown hair was tousled, and his eyes flashed angrily, but even so, Giulio smiled. It was rather unsettling for Matteo, and he hesitated before giving his suggestion for the third time. "Giulio, you've had your drinks already and," he whispered, "the innkeeper isn't that happy with you either. I say we go while we still hold his graces before he calls someone to haul us out."
In response, Giulio made a rude gesture. Sighing, Matteo sank back on his seat and put his head into the crook of his arm. Eyeing him curiously and thinking it was a great idea, Giulio mirrored his movements. The innkeeper flung his hands up in exasperation and called it a night.
The torchlight crackled merrily as Giulio watched it with bemusement. "Hey Matteo," he began but Matteo waved him off.
"Let's sleep," Matteo simply replied. Giulio gaped.
"Here?" Giulio asked quizzically.
"Mmhmm."
Guffawing, Giulio shook his head and muttered, "The innkeeper and Bailiff will be pissed," even as he too fell under the lull of the night, the world blissfully uncaring of the grisly murder which happened only an hour ago.
"Stabbed to death, sir." the corpse digger scowled.
"Thank you Rafa," the Bailiff said dryly. Eyeing the corpses, he asked, "Does anyone know who they are?"
Scrunching his eyes up Rafa gave a dramatic pause, before saying, "No."
The Bailiff pondered while a guardsman tutted. "Looks like we'll have to talk to the townspeople in the morning," the guard muttered.
"Any witnesses?" the Bailiff wondered. Rafa and the guardsman glanced at each other and shrugged. "Giullop- was that his name? He mentioned that there was a child, possibly of the couple."
"Ah yes sir," the guardsman said, "As of now he is currently warming up by the fire. The townsfolk mentioned that he was kneeling by the bodies. We tried questioning him but… he won't talk."
"Well, I reckon that the child is traumatized. Goodness knows what he witnessed, and in such a way too. We can question him in the morning." And with that, the Bailiff strode out of the room.
AN: Well there you go! How was it? Eh, Meh, Bleh? In contrast to Tale of Ansaldo, this book will go at a much slower pace, but hopefully I'll be able to finish this first arc. Drop off the reviews, maybe give a favorite or two, eh ;)?