Ch 3 A Favor to Ask
Look for the dark rider
A shadow at his back
Music dark within his soul
And vengence to be had .....
He smiled grimly when he saw they hadn't even tried to break the lock on the door, most of his men had assumed that was where he kept the odd bits of metal used to make horse shoes and the like, in fact most of the shed was devoted to that very purpose, but in the back behind a false wall he kept his dreams.
He pulled the key chain from around his neck and opened the first lock. The door screeched on its rusty hinges as he pulled it open, that was another of his security measures, as loud as the door was, someone would have heard it being opened.
Inside he pulled out a candle from the bag hanging by the door, he struck a spark and lit it. Setting it in it's own melted wax, on the stone bench that lined half the back wall he, felt under the bench for the release. There, he felt it and pulled. The hidden compartment opened and he was looking at another door of nicely dressed stone.
He put his second key in the lock, turning it to the right until he heard the click, removing the key he pushed the door sliding it towards the side with the bench.
Just inside the door there was a small shelf holding several small lamps, taking one he lifted the glass shade and lit it with the candle before blowing that out, then replacing the shade, he started down the steep stairs leading to his secret chamber.
The light made the shadows dance wildly on the stone walls, one spiral down and he was there. He was under the barn, rather than the shed now. He was lucky his brother Gedren was a genius with stone, and fascinated with hidden chambers. He had jumped at the chance to make this place for Rannel, when he was starting the farm.
The Armor and weapon's his father had forced him to put aside lined the walls, small wooden chests against the walls under them. He took his time picking out what he would need, then he started carrying everything up the stair and into the stable.
He laid out the leather bag that he used to pack the extra arrowheads for his bow. Then he pulled the bow out checking it for wear, he strung it and pulled back at the string, it was sound. Unstringing it, he put it back in it's weatherproof bag. The chain mail and armor he put aside, adding extra links to the arrowhead bag.
Then he unsheathed his sword, checking it carefully for any signs of rust. None, he thought grimly to himself, the weaponsmaster who had taught him and his brothers had made sure they knew how to care for their weapon's. He also checked the knives. Everything was in order.
Then leaving the weapon's where they were he returned to the shed. He put out and returned the lamp to it's shelf and closed and locked all doors, carrying his last bag from the hidden room. The key, hidden again, around his neck on it's chain.
When he got back to the stable he opened the last bag and pulled out the clothing it contained, dark colors, should be good for the road he thought to himself.
He pulled out his packs, removing everything, the dirty clothing he put aside and began to repack as tightly as he could. When he came to the gittern, he froze, slowly he pulled it out of it's case, he stared at it an moment and his hand slowly closed on its neck, then he forced his hand open, it's all I have left he thought to himself.
He repacked it quickly and added it to what he was taking, he also threw in the bag with the strings and flute. He grabbed his chain mail and a set of clothing from the bag he had brought from the shed. At the well, he washed again and got dressed, then he braided back hair that was just long enough and put on his helmet, it was one fashioned after the Shin'a'in's style, back then, when he had gotten it, he had wanted to be able to see, to use his bow.
He walked quickly back to the stable and up to Greys stall, taking his lead he brought him out and walked to one of the pasture gates, once inside he slapped his flank. As the startled horse jumped and ran he said "Sorry old friend, you can't come with me this journey". Then he took Flame, the red mare and did the same, he would Mist, the grey as a packhorse.
Once packed it didn't take him long to be on his way. He wasn't looking forward to the next leg of his journey, but he had to do it before he could begin the hunt.
It was almost dark when he made it to his brother's house. Being a sculptor of stone he had a house in Denscorner, a small town at the crossroads of two fairly well traveled trade routes. When he answered the door Gedrun took one look at his brother's clothing and haggard face and asked "What's happened".
Rannel closed his eyes before answering "They're all dead".
"Who" he asked.
"Everyone, Graella, Marren, and all five of my men" He shook his head.
"How" his brother asked.
"Somebody came in and killed them all" as he said this his voice and eyes hardened from the lost tone he had started with.
"Who would do such a thing" his brother said a shocked note in his voice.
"I don't know yet, but they are dead men" he said a mad light burning in his eyes.
Gedrun had never seen his brother like this, usually his brother was a laid back kind of man, always ready with a laugh or joke. "I need a favor" Rannel said, bringing him back to the present.
"Anything" he said seriously.
"I need you to watch over my land" he said.
"But..." Gedrun started to say before Rannel interrupted.
"I don't know what they left, the animals have to be taken care of, and....." he hesitated, then added. "I can't go back there, all I see is my family, the way I found them" he broke off and looked off into space willing the tears that threatened to go away. Under control he turned back to his brother "You don't have to worry I buried them and cleaned up".
"Gods" Gedrun groaned, appalled at what his brother had gone through. He grabbed his brother's shoulders and pulled him in the door.
"I can't stay" Rannel protested.
"At least stay the night, you won't be able to see to trail them tonight anyway" Gedrun said.
Rannel nodded tiredly "I need to take care of the horses" he said pointing to the two he had tied to his brother's gate.
"Don't worry I'll get them, just sit" he said pushing his brother in the door.
The next morning, Gedrun had his affairs in order, he arraigned for his tools and things to be brought to his brother's place, but made sure he could ride back with Rannel himself to the farm where Rannel would start his hunt. He also arraigned for a few men he knew and trusted to meet him there. He warned them of the danger, they would be well armed and ready.