The cresent moon barely hung in the night’s sky as Willem returned to his home just inside the wall in the southeast corner of Aerie City. It was a cool night and he was glad to be back in the city. While he does enjoy journeying through the Kingdoms, he wasn’t thilled with his last assignment as a glorified messenger. Temple business is starting to become tedious he thought to himself and he reminisced about the tasty meal he had just consumed. His breath visible in the night air, he passed several taverns and other low establishments. This area sure is transitioning. As he turned the corner, he heard a muffled scream and stopped to listen. There were male voices giving short commands. He bagan moving in the direction of the sounds. He could hear a woman screaming, but it sounded as if there was something covering her mouth. He bagan moving faster and turned down an alleyway. He slowed, allowing his eyes to adjust to the increased darkness and put his hand on the hilt of a dagger at his belt. He could make out three large shadows standing up and a fourth seemed to be kneeling up against the wall. Where are the patrols when you need them? He continued moving, the shapes becoming more visible as his eyes adjusted. What’s going on here? he asked authoritatively.
Two of the men moved towards him, None of you concern, citizen. Move along. They lifted the clubs in their hands and began to lightly hit their free hands with them.
I don’t think I can do that. Willem replied.
It’s your funeral, was the only response and the two thugs were on him immediately. The fighting was quick and vicious. Willem was bruised, but standing – more than could be said for the other two. He stepped towards the third, his heart racing, filling his body with heat. I said I didn’t want any trouble, the thiefs voice was shaky as he raised his hands out in front of him and backed up to the opposite wall, and I meant it.
Willem continued to advance. The last piece of filth tried to scurry past him on the far wall. Willem caught sight of the woman on the ground, her nose bloodied and her dress ripped in shreds. She looks just like my sister. The heat filled his head and he saw only red as he looked back at the last man running away up the alley. He wasn’t sure how it happened, but his dagger flew out of his hand and lodged itself between the man’s shoulder blades.
After a moment – seeming like an eternity – the heat dissipated. Willem focused on his knife in the man’s back. He looked at the woman, now crying. He felt different. Like he lost something. He reached out his hand and helped her up. He reached out to St. Trithereon, seeking to heal her, but there was nothing. He looked back down the alley at his knife. Realization set in and he collapsed into darkness.
