Kings, Geezers and Bloody War (Chapter 17)

Hello my beautiful Steemits. The week is upon us again and I do so love to chat but I have a big day today, so off you go my beauties and read->

Chapter 17

Night had feel by the time Ruff made it to the old Masters house, he was tired, drained more than usual. All the way he made prayers to what ever god or gods would listen to him, to keep Motyl safe, keep her alive until he could find out who betrayed them.

He took in a breath and held his peace until he had cracked open the secret door, being extremely careful not set off booby traps or wake the old man. When no such devices triggered, he bowed his head in thanks and released the stale air in his lungs. He quietly opened the door further and stepped inside, the dark hiding his entry.

He edged around the room, not wanting to bump weapons or tools to alert anyone inside the house. He stopped at the door that he could only assume was the old mans bedroom, again he cracked the door first and felt around for traps or alarms. When none revealed themselves he slowly opened the door and unsheathed his short sword. He tip toed to the bed and strained to see the figure under the sheets. He held his breath, lifted his sword without sound, then a moment of clarity came to him, his brow arched at the all too easy target before him.

He swung he sword down, but it did not sail towards the dormant lump in the bed, but swung down and past his side and buried deep into the unseen body hovering behind Ruff. A muffled grunt of pain and the clatter of a bladed weapon hitting the floor comforts Ruff that the target is now immobilised and unarmed.

“Fuck, you stabbed me?!” Came the familiar voice of the old man from the dark. Ruff fumbled for a lamp at the bed table and struck a flint to light. As a glow grew, Ruff turned around and found a bloody and angry old master leaning against a crude wooden cupboard, clutching a wound to his stomach.

“Your suppose to be dead, that was the contracted deal!” rasped the bitter old man.

Ruff leaned in close enough to face the old man but not too close to be struck by a hidden weapon “What the fuck is going on, why was we betrayed, who wanted us dead?!”

“Fuck you, cunt! You know I can’t divulge the details of a contract.” spits the old man.

“Well you let slip that about Motyl, so why not now.”

The man chuckles “You fucking stupid child, I was merely throwing you off, seeing you saw the contract on the table behind me...”

Ruff’s forehead creased with confusion and went to interject but the old master continued.

“Thank the gods the girl came out, though I was telling you the truth, you are a fucking fool if you weren't hammering her tight little….”

Ruff back handed the master and then placed his sword across his throat “Tell me who put the contract out on us, was it Lord Casell? Was it the Remus Republic?! Who damn it, who?!”

“Heh pfft! Kill me, you know I will not tell you, whether I am dead or alive you will not know, heh heh.”

Ruff, in such a fitful anger, rained down a barrage of blows from the small hilt of his sword into the ragged, bony face of the old master. The man struggled to protect himself with one hand while the other held closed his large wound. The cracking and crunching of bone and teeth did not sway his furry at one of his own, at the realisation that it was his own guild that accepted a contract out on him and Motyl.

“Tell me, tell me!” grunted Ruff in animalistic anger through wild, clenched teeth. “Tell me or so help me, I will make you suffer a thousand deaths before I let you die!”

The old master looked up at him, his face a mashed pulp of flesh and blood, one eye ruined it the assault. “No doubt you could and would, I still can not tell you, but I tell you this, as a friend and fellow guild member, Lord Cassell is as dead as you and your answers are in the castle.”

Ruff released the dying master and he slumped to the floor into a pool of his own blood. Ruff then searched the room trashing it as he went, taking anything he could find of value or as aide. As he finished he strided to the door but a hand grabbed him on the leg. “Please, don’t let me die like this, make it quick, please!” Ruff hesitated for a moment, giving thought to whether the old master deserved a quick death, but Ruff nodded in agreement and without thought severed the man’s head just above the jaw and left the room without a backward glance.