Diary of Cyfier - 6. Emmelin.

This girl was my new prey, so easily toyed with. She was contracted to the service of the circle by force and this gave me opportunity to exploit, at first, we were natural enemies. We fought against each other, battled greatly, at times i would capture her, torture her, my favourite always being the burning bowl, a simple concept of a bowl placed in their lap and the more they do not talk. The more hot coal you place in the bowl, it would slowly heat and burn the flesh on her legs til they could bare no more pain. she was a hardened woman but driven on emotion.  She had ample family within Bree and I would take it upon them to lure out Emmelin, this girl was my ticket and it was to easy to gain. I began to see that her efforts to stop me changed, taunting me with conversation to which I cared so little for then. Then it suddenly became clear, she lusted for me, here lay my most difficult challenge, to hold normality long enough to gain my goal, I progressed it from enemies, to friends and then to some strange kind of relationship. I stood her new partner and received my invitation to the circle through her.

In return I did grant her my services, I assisted her with the troubles she had. We spent a great deal of time in each others company and I grew to enjoy it for some time. She had struggles with a military group called The Sentinals, at the time, a great power within Bree. Rivals to the circle at the time, but knowing the circle, and the attention I gain before by stepping on their toes, I did not end involved here, not yet, for it was not the time for war where it regarded me. Afterall, I was then, just one man. So where I could get information to help her, I did so, but during this time, It was mostly spy work and such, her orders from the circle fell to her and I helped.

I was unfortunate during my initial period with Emmelin, she was close to another, named Eovad. He was within their circle and I was an outsider, we clashed on several occasions and I enjoyed marking what he thought to be his territory, but still I was frustrated by my earlier shun from the Circle, and was often too keen to prove myself. Of course, when you are not part of any group, it is impossible to know everyones plans, and I had appeared several times to many in the eyes of Avasa and an order for my death was raised by Esclyn, who I still continued to watch.

Emmelin, in her panic, was kind enough to tell me, allowing me a head start on any that would come to collect on this bounty, but for all my efforts, they still came. Drinks became poison, food toyed with strangely before it arrived to my table, shadows cast over me from rooftops and eyes constantly glaring my way. Though it was Eovad who eventually got close enough.

For some unknown reason, Eovad had shown me a mercy. He told me to leave Bree, go into hiding and never return. I had no option if I was willing to live. Eovad required a token to take to Esclyn as proof, so I provided, I took my own dagger and cut off my middle finger from my right hand. I have heard since that when she received this finger, she wasn’t all too concerned and simply threw it to one side, the most disturbing part of it, is Eovad retrieved it and still keeps it as his prize today, I do wonder what he keeps it for.

At this point, exiled from Bree and nowhere to go, I made my alliance with Brigands in Chetwood, it would never lead to much other than shelter when I required it but it was there, my mind played it's most evil of games. Turning upon it's own master and pledging to make me mad unless I overcome those that had cast me out, the anger grew to new heights. The plots and images I could portray are summoned with a great ease and logic when I turn to face a darkness within my own mind, this darkness, forever it shall be my own vault to where I can find the better ways to overcome my enemies. Emmelin, Eovad and all those from their circle had pushed me to find the place that would become my own, that I can visit each time I require a masterful plan, but each time I do, I feel I leave that place with less of my own mind, and more of whatever lies in that dark void. A resource tapped to often..

The plan I found was simple yet bold, a chance I could be killed without hesitation. Eovad had proclaimed to Esclyn that I was of course dead and so I waited, Emmelin and I continued to see each other, I need that connection to remain alive, but wait I did until their circle was in battle, I know not the opponents, nor did I care. Just that I would show up like a wondering fell spirit and draw my blades in favour of the circle.  My place finally found, no longer was the others better than I but equal. My smirks cast across my face from under my now blackened hood.