Blood and Water - Chapter Two 05/12

[Requiem19]

Brief Introduction to Story - Hello all. This is my very first sim story on this site. Be gentle? :lol: Anyway, this story is a mixture of fantasy and horror, sometimes known as dark fantasy. I listed it as fantasy, however, because it is set in a medieval world and it contains a lot of fantastical elements. On the other hand it is also somewhat of a horror story. I just thought I'd put that out there right away in case you don't want your fantasy and your horror mixing together or something and would rather not read this story then. ;) Anyway, on with the show.

This first chapter is just a prologue. Normal chapters will be a little longer.


TALES OF TRELINE - BOOK I: BLOOD & WATER

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Her blood pouring from her body in torrents with every sick beat of her heart, the young woman fled from the monster. Breath exploded from her mouth to become mist hanging in the chill autumn air.

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Her legs ached with exertion; her wound throbbed and expelled crimson in a gory flood. Her heart labored. All was dark. It was the night of the new moon. The forest path stretched on for eternity. Dark trees crowded on either side of her.

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Her foot caught on a root growing wild in the path and she fell to the ground. Her breath left her and she was momentarily dazed. She struggled to stand but something hard knocked her flat again and pinned her down.

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It wrenched her body about viciously so that she was forced to look up into its dreadful countenance. Once she laid her eyes upon that horrible, cruel face she knew that it was all over. She was so petrified that she could not even voice one last scream as the thing bent its maw of a mouth ever closer to her. Tears dripped down her cheeks to melt the newly fallen snow and muddy the dirt of the path.

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Within minutes she was dead.

[KyleTheArtist]

I really like it :D wonderful pictures and i love the plot so far. great job, keep it up :P

[Captain THPS4]

Great opening! Can't wait to see what happens next. :)

[Requiem19]

Thank you! I'm planning to post the first chapter pretty soon. Just gotta finish editing some pictures. :)

[Requiem19]

Chapter One - The Lord and the Regent

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Lord Kaledir Anirion knelt down next to the dead woman. It was early morning. The first faint blushes of dawn tinged the sky. A few wispy clouds floated overhead and the stars were vanishing. The late October wind blew his long hair back from his frowning face. A pale finger reached out to touch the woman's cheek. It was icy.

"She's been here awhile," he remarked to his companion.

The other man shrugged his broad shoulders. He stood a few feet away, a somewhat anxious expression on his tanned face. "I just found her an hour or so ago. I thought I'd better come and tell you about it. I heard you're the one to tell about these sorts of things."

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"You heard correctly," said Kaledir, straightening. He gave the other man a level stare. "You can go now."

The other man shifted uncomfortably. "What happened to her? Looks like she was mauled by some sort of beast."

Kaledir nodded. "There are many dangerous creatures in this forest, Master Hendry."

"I can't argue with you on that. Well, I'll be on my way. I just can't believe something like this has happened," replied Hendry.

"It's a very unfortunate occurrence," agreed Kaledir. "Thank you for coming to me about this, Master Hendry."

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Hendry only nodded. He turned and walked north along the path. Soon he was lost to sight. Kaledir stood staring after him for a few minutes before returning his attention to the dead woman.

He knelt down next to the body once more. Gently he brushed back wisps of dark blonde hair from the woman's throat. Leaning in closely, he examined her bloodied neck. There were two deep punctures on the left side. Dried blood ringed the tiny holes, but it was still apparent that she had been bitten.

* * *

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As soon as he'd finished inspecting the corpse in the forest, Kaledir had returned to the city, heading straight for the enormous castle that rested upon a steep hill in the very center of the town. He intended to tell the Regent about the murder right away; the old man would no doubt berate him if he failed to update him with the latest news.

Instead of heading for the Regent's study on the fourth floor of the castle, he made for the castle library after having been informed by a young maid that James Arthur had decided to take his tea there. Kaledir wound his way among the many stacks of books until he reached the spot where the Regent had decided to settle down.

"Ah, Lord Anirion," greeted the Regent. "Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

The Regent appeared ruffled. "What's this 'Excellency' nonsense? You know you may call me James."

"There has been another attack," said Kaledir. "A farmer called Hendry found a dead woman lying along the forest path early this morning."

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“Good lord,” exclaimed the Regent. “This is the seventh death this week.”

The man nodded. “They are growing bolder. They venture closer and closer to the city every night. The woman was found less than a mile south of the valley.”

The Regent’s eyes grew wide with shock. “That cannot be,” he sputtered. “Never have they come so close, never have they dared. Why now?”

“I do not know. All I know is that we have been slaughtering more in the night since the beginning days after our inception.”

The Regent shook his head as if in disbelief. He appeared tired. He ran bony fingers through his wispy white hair. “Do the townspeople suspect anything?” he finally asked.

“No. They go on as complacently as before. They do not even seem to remember the terror of a decade ago.”

“Good,” muttered the Regent. “That’s very good. Keep it that way. We don’t want to have a panic on our hands. What about the farmer? Did he suspect anything?”

“He thought it the work of a savage animal,” replied the man, his face showing nothing.

“Good, good,” replied the Regent. “But what are we to do, Kaledir?”

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“So far we have done well in holding them off. I do not think you need worry about the city.”

“So we just keep on as before? Is that what you advise?” asked the Regent.

The man nodded. “I am afraid it is all we can do, at least for the moment. We will wait and we will watch, but we will not let the city or its inhabitants come to any harm.”

The Regent bobbed his head up and down fervently. “That is very well then. Not much I can do as usual.” The old man sighed.

“Don’t be hard on yourself, James,” said the man, his voice growing gentle. “None of this is because of you.”

“Still I must do something,” said the Regent. His voice was quiet. His wrinkled face was contorted with sadness.

“We all must do our part,” agreed the man. “Keep minding the city. That is your part, James.”

The Regent nodded unhappily. His blue eyes were fixed on the tall man. “I suppose you’re right as usual, my friend. I just hope that in the end we are doing the right thing. I can't help but feel as if something dreadful will happen before it's all over."

"If it will ever be over," added Kaledir.

The Regent looked up at him unhappily and nodded.

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Not long after his meeting with the Regent James Arthur, Kaledir Anirion stood outside the heavy oaken doors to the fortress, awaiting his horse. His mind was troubled though he did not let it show upon his face. The Regent was getting very old. Kaledir feared the man did not have much time left. Kaledir did not quite have the heart to trouble his old friend with questions of his will. However, the question couldn’t be left unsaid for long. Who was going to govern the city after old James was dead?

A short, greasy looking man with a heavy paunch ambled toward him leading a handsome black stallion along by the reins. The fat hostler came to a stop in front of Kaledir and stood regarding him with beady brown eyes.

“This your horse?” he demanded.

Ignoring the man’s rudeness Kaledir nodded and took the reins from the man’s grubby fingers. The fat hostler continued to stare at him until Kaledir reached into his coat and produced a few coppers. Grinning the fat man shuffled away, his dirty hands clamped tightly around the coins. Kaledir turned away from the man with mild disgust and rubbed the stallion’s neck. The horse whickered in reply.

Grasping the pommel Kaledir swung up easily into the saddle and prodded Blaze (so named for the brilliant white streak upon the horse’s otherwise dark forehead) into a walk. Together horse and rider made their way down the hill toward the towering walls that surrounded the castle. Approaching the gate, which was open, Kaledir was waved through by a pair of armed guards dressed in the traditional purple and silver livery of the city.

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The gate let out onto the city square, which was a large open space surrounded on all sides by tall buildings, mostly shops, and decorated by a large statue set directly in the center. Surrounding the base of the statue was a small pool of water, filled daily by castle servants, and open to the use of all citizens. It was toward this pool that Kaledir now rode.

At the statue he dismounted and led his horse to drink at the pool. Blaze lowered his head to drink voraciously as if he had not been watered properly at the castle stables. Kaledir thought of the fat hostler again and regretted giving the man even a few copper coins. Absently Kaledir stroked the stallion’s neck again. His thoughts were elsewhere. He did not even notice when someone else approached and sat down on the very lip of the pool.

A soft, muffled sound brought him out of his vague reverie. It was the quiet sound of someone weeping. For the first time he noticed a young girl with grimed and matted blonde hair sitting on the edge of the pool. She could be no more than fourteen years of age at most.

But the thing that most drew his curious gaze toward her was the object leaning against the lip of the pool next to her: a sword.

[Requiem19]

Chapter Two - A Chance Encounter

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Kaledir approached the girl and as he did so he became aware that he was not the only one looking at her curiously. Glancing around he saw many passersby give quick disapproving stares. He supposed that had a lot to do with the sword close to the girl's hand. As he drew nearer to her, she became aware of his presence and got to her feet. She sniffled and tried to wipe the tears from her cheeks as she regarded him warily.

He wasn't sure why, but he felt drawn to the girl. Ordinarily he ignored the majority of the city's orphans and urchins unless they seemed worthy of recruitment. He supposed the girl could be trained; she was of the proper age and, if her sword meant anything, she'd already had experience with a weapon. Still, it was not like him to feel sympathy for street urchins. In his line of work, a certain detachment was helpful, even necessary sometimes.

"What is your name, girl?" he asked. It was the only thing he could think to say.

The girl looked at him with a guarded expression. She seemed ready to bolt at a moment's notice. He did not blame her. He often gave little away with his own expressions and that had earned him an intimidating air.

"Caewyn," she finally replied. Her voice was quiet, cautious, but Kaledir detected a trace of iron in it, a certain stubborn determination.

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"Why are you crying?" he asked.

The girl lowered her gaze from his face. "I dunno," she said.

"Where do you live?" he pressed.

"Nowhere," she replied. "Everywhere. I don't have a home anymore. I live wherever there is a nice place to sleep. This is the latest place I have been to, but I have been to many different places. I haven't decided if this place is nice yet."

"Did you run away?" he guessed shrewdly.

Still not meeting his eyes, the girl nodded. "A long time ago. I wouldn't know how to get back even if I wanted to."

"And do you want to go back?"

Her head snapped up and she shook it fiercely, her blue eyes blazing. "No, not ever!"

Kaledir was calm in the face of the girl's outburst. "I know a place where you could stay. Would you like to go there?"

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"Is it an orphanage? Will they take away my things?" she demanded, her eyes drifting down to the sword.

"No, but there are other children like you living there. They will not take your things away."

"How can I trust you?" she asked, her eyes growing wary once more.

"You cannot," he admitted. "You can only trust your instinct. If it helps, I have no intention whatsoever of harming you."

The girl seemed to consider this, studying his features carefully. Kaledir waited patiently for her to make her decision. After only a few minutes, she seemed to make up her mind. Her expression grew less suspicious as she looked at him.

"I've decided to come with you."

* * *

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Laura Anirion surveyed the children as they exercised on the lush green grass in the courtyard of a large stone and wood manor that resembled a fortress. At her side stood a tall, lanky man with dark hair and a boyish face. The man was frowning.

“Does Kaledir know you plan to adopt one of these ragamuffins?” asked the lanky man.

Laura turned her round face up to regard the tall man with a smile. “Well, not yet,” she admitted. “And they’re not ragamuffins; they’re children.”

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The man’s frown deepened. “What if Kaledir doesn’t want an urchin?”

Laura’s expression grew severe. “They’re not urchins either, Kieran. And it will be just too bad if he doesn’t want one, because I want one. He will just have to live with that.”

Kieran shook his head. “You must be crazy to cross him, Laura. No one here dares.”

Laura just smiled.

* * *

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The man Caewyn had learned to be named Kaledir led her through the many winding, busy streets of the great city until they reached a large stone manor house sitting on a lush green lawn. To Caewyn the house looked much more like a fortress than a place where anyone would choose to live. On her way into the city, Caewyn had passed by this house without ever really noticing it. However, she couldn't help but notice the thick wall and tall wrought iron gate. The house had a decidedly fortified feeling.

"What is this place?" she wondered aloud.

"Where you are to stay from now on."

"That's helpful," Caewyn muttered to herself.

“You’ll soon find out everything you want to know,” said Kaledir, as if he’d heard her.

Caewyn started, blushing faintly. Kaledir did not appear to notice. He merely produced a large key from within his long black coat and opened the gate. He beckoned to her and she followed him, struggling to keep up with the powerful stride of his long legs. They reached the front doors. Kaledir opened one door and slipped inside with Caewyn right behind him.

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Just inside the doors was a foyer with dark paneled walls and a gleaming hardwood floor strewn with richly designed rugs. At the far end of the room was a staircase with iron railings and risers covered with a crimson carpet. And all about there were people everywhere, going to and fro about their business, people clad mostly in funereal black with somber expressions on their faces. Caewyn was very much surprised. Despite his assurances to the contrary, she had been certain that Kaledir was taking her to an orphanage.

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Kaledir started across the foyer, headed for the stairs. Caewyn trailed after him obediently, her eyes taking in everything. They were soon stopped, however, by a tall yet lanky man with dark hair. A smile stretched across the man’s round, youthful face as he approached them. He stopped just before Kaledir, but his attention was soon upon Caewyn who felt his gaze upon her as he studied her with curiosity.

“This another one then?” asked the stranger.

Kaledir nodded. “Show her to a room, please, Kieran. I have things to do.”

“You always have things to do,” remarked Kieran, the impish grin never leaving his face. “But if you really can’t be bothered, then all right.”

Kaledir shook his head and walked away. He soon disappeared up the stairs to the second floor. Caewyn stared after him in shock. Nervously she turned to the stranger. His grin had become a kind smile as he regarded her. Caewyn relaxed slightly in his presence. Whoever this man was she did not think he wanted to harm her. On the contrary, he appeared to be very warm and welcoming.

“Hello,” he greeted her. His voice was melodic and pleasant. "Welcome to the Hall."

[jewaukeela]

I love your writing style, and I can't wait to hear more!

[Captain THPS4]

Great chapter! I agree about the writing style, it really kept me hooked. Caewyn is gorgeous, I'm curious about the sword.