The Manor

The man in black pauses for a moment of reflection on his foe. There is a part of him that envies the man in red. Since that night he likes to think that the man in red has led a peaceful life, he even has a family now. He leads the life that all mercenaries dream of, a peaceful life. The last of the morning fog burns away as the last of the column of workers winds its way through towards the fields. The moment of envy passes and he sets off towards the manor of the man in red.


The paving on the road that cuts through the heart of the forest that borders the town and hems in the man in reds manor is travel worn, the trees at the side are impeccably kept and offer a sharp contrast to unkempt ones that lie just past the forest border. The forest seems eternal in contrast to the recent settlement near the docks, who knows what tales the trees in the forest would tell if they could talk. Generations of observing the comings and goings of man and other creatures.


The path way seems to have been constructed purposefully to reach the man in red’s residence. There are no branches or crossroads, but that suits the man in black. There are no distractions on this path, no chances to go a different way. The man in black is committed to this path whatever it’s outcome. The gun belts are starting to fell like a ton weight, the companions that have saved his life more times than he can remember start to feel like a house guest that has outstayed their welcome. He’s just waiting to get rid of them because one way or another he’s going to be finished with them tonight.
The forest track winds closer to the fortress, the sun begins to set and in his mind a bell begins to toll. The gun belts creak in as he adjusts them so he can get the drop on the man in red. The sun has set as he reaches the gates of the fortress, the sentries wave him past, the man in red is expecting him it seems.


Something about that sets him on edge. He was sure that the sentries observed him on the forest path but just to be waved through. This is new and the man in black doesn’t like that. New situations are dangerous and one seldom leaves them alive. The door to the manor opens smoothly as the man in black approaches. No creaking, the hairs on his neck stand a sure sign that something is wrong. As he makes his way through the manor he smells blood on the air. There is something wrong here, he thinks back to his approach to the manor and realises that the sentries never moved from where they standing on the wall. That combined with the thick almost pungent smell of blood sets the dice rolling in his head and he involuntarily draws his guns. He realises that the man in red is more that likely dead or gravely wounded. Revenge and honour seem lost to him at the moment.


He pushes those thoughts from his mind and continues his way through the manor. Needlessly checking every room, he knows where the creature that did this are. His pragmatic nature shows in this checking every room. Eventually he reaches the main hall and the shock of what he sees makes him fall to his knees and the guns slip from his hands. In front of him is a scene that he had hoped never to see. The man in red is missing his hands and feet, his head is hanging on by a sliver of flesh and there is a symbol carved into his chest. The symbol is of two dragons arranged in the shape of a ying yang. The symbol that is burned into the back of his head, he remembers it from his youth when he was a part of the monarch’s assassin squad. They always said it was a life service. But himself and the man in red never believed that. Since they were the best in the squad. Only one surpassed them and he is here now. In thirty years of living free as a mercenary he has killed seventy five of the monarchs assassins. To have this one sent after them though means that they do want the two of them dead and no mistakes.