The wind blew through the tall Man's unkept hair and rough beard, as he stood upon his horse and atop the grassy hill. He could now feel the weight of his gear, his swords sheathed inside their well-made scabbards hanging down from his back, the armored pads on his shoulders and the leather belt around his strong waist Finally his boots, made of fine black leather, carrying pieces of dried mud and dust, a sign of the long road that lied behind him, now almost to an end.
His weary deep blue eyes fixated on the village down the hillside, less than another half a mile away. His long, muscular arm reached for his steed's neck, gently stroking the mare that stood an invaluable companion to him this whole time. Another breezy wind blew from the north, caressing his scarred, youthful face and making a whistling sound as it passed through the trees and the small houses of the village. He sighed. "Arrowhaven.."
With a touch of his heels on the horse's sides, he swiftly rode down the hill, only to decelerate as he passed through the village's main gate. It was quiet, uncommonly tranquil. There was not a soul to be seen or heard in the streets The Man wandered the empty streets and alleys, in search of any signs of presence amongst the residences. He was avoiding yet to head for his actual destination, as his suspicion of something malevolent in his surroundings grew stronger.
His eyes turned into black pools as the darkness of his hood covered his entire face and with a quick adjustment of his metallic visor, his guise completely hid his identity. Leaving his horse in the shadow of an alley formed between the walls of two nearby houses, the Warrior walked with careful but steady footsteps across the village's square, and ascended the road that led to the valley's highest ground, where the Mansion lied.
His weary footsteps were the only thing breaking the silence of Arrowhaven's breezy autumn air, as he approached the Manor. A glance of the gate's rusty, worn condition and the moved wooden barricades on the ground and the sharp, ringing sound of his drawing of his swords echoed around the large yard. He hastily crossed the destroyed fence and found himself in front of the main door. Tightly locked, but without any signs of intrusion. "Mere bandits would never make it this far...no, this goes deeper. As always.", he though in but an instant.
He was about to let his mind reflect upon the thought, when a sudden sound of rustling coming out of the tall grass startled him like a bolt from the blue. His glance turned quickly towards the source, with the edge of his sword following right after. "Man pada ennas?!", he yelled in a serious, demanding tone. The answer came to him not in spoken words, but hurried footsteps carrying their owner far from potential threat. The swordsman rushed forward and into the thick vegetation with unparalleled speed, taking great advantage of his vast stature and admirable athleticism.
A few heartbeats and the Warrior's arm gripped his opponent's shoulder tightly, bringing him down on the ground with a pulling motion, with the same ease as a grown man hurling but a child, one might say. The Man's eyes met with those of his opponent's. It did not look like it at first, but it was a woman. "She is but a youngling of a lady...no, not even a lady. A girl.", he though as his face slightly softened from behind his visor.
He was about to address the girl, but she came out speaking first, interrupting him with a trembling voice and a stressed, fearful expression. "D...Don't kill me. I'll give it to you, I'll give it all, just let me go!", she said as her hand reached deep into the pockets of her torn trousers, and came out holding quite a few copper coins. The tall Man stood right above the young thief, the difference in their stature posing now more than ever. With a slow motion, he unhooked his metallic visor and let it fall on the side of his face, offering the girl a relaxed, somewhat understanding expression. "Answer to my questions and you will walk away unharmed, I swear it. Where did you find these...or rather, where did you steal them from? And while you're at it, what happened to the village, where are all the people? And the residents of this Mansion.", he asked in a mellow tone, controlling his breath as he was sheathing his swords back.
The girl's face lightened up somewhat as she answered with willingness. "I stole from the Inn...they lack working hands these days, and I have to eat.. And the villagers do not go there anymore...or leave their houses after it gets dark, at least those who haven't moved to Bree already, because of all the bandits. It all came down when they emptied the Mansion. Nobody knows why.."
"Wait, wait...hold up for a moment. They emptied the Manor?", the Warrior asked in a serious tone.
"Oh, yes, good sir. They took some of their belongings on carriages...I don't know of the residents. But then again, we never knew them for real. Strange people, aye."
"Then my business lies elsewhere. But first, I will be heading to the Inn...a word or two with the new residents, the ones sending people away from their homes, ravaging what they can get their hands on."
The Man lowered his hood and revealed his appearance completely to her. He untangled his hair and let them free to fall down to his lower back, the rich black locks almost reaching his waist, as he turned to head for the Warhorse Inn.
"Wait!", said the girl. "Just...who are you?"
The tall man turned at her for but a moment, a fade smile on his lips. "Angelnarth Naurmeril. Pleasure, young miss."
