W
wachook
Guest
Original poster
Years after the monsters had abandoned the Midden, Oscar could still smell their stench emanating from the grounds. His teacher had long compared the creatures to wildcats pissing a fence around their territory and while they weren't as common anymore, they were just as ferocious. So why was it that the villagers were unmolested? He'd been summoned to the Midden on the tip of a trusted confidant and besides the smell, the beast was not here. It didn't help that he didn't know what kind of creature he was after; his connection had not mentioned any tooth, any tail, and any hair. His horse had suffered for it—the beast had been laden with numerous supplies, such that Oscar had been unable to ride it. As for himself, he carried an antiquated lance and various potions. The weapon had been confiscated by the mayor upon arrival.
"So you claim to have seen this thing, then?"
"If you don't believe me, you can ask any of them. They know I'm not lying." He gestured to the townspeople gathered behind him. Not all of them were frightened, which scared Oscar. The foolish were the worst sort of people to deal with—always interfering with his work. No doubt they'd ask to join in the hunt.
"I believe you. I just find it hard to believe you don't have any more information for me."
"I'm telling you, I found that thing near the well! She's poisoning the water supply—five of us been fallen sick ever since."
"Ah, so it is a 'she'. What gave it away?"
"Don't tell me you're to bed the thing." He laughed nervously, sending a titter round the crowd. Oscar scowled.
"Every detail helps, citizen. But if you think this a mockery, perhaps you ought to send your own guards after the beast. No? Then what gave it away?"
"The hair, I guess." He scratched his head. "Er, the voice. I heard it speaking to the water. It was dark; I didn't see much. Is it a witch?"
"Nay, I would have smelled it as soon as I entered this tavern. That is, if you did as I said. Mayor?"
A dangerously thin man coughed into this sleeve and nodded. Oscar believed him. Even the sick had been temporarily lodged in the guest rooms—not that the village would need them; the Midden wasn't exactly a popular travel destination.
"Alright. Mayor, if I could have my spear. You there," he pointed to the witness, "can take me to the well. Additionally, I would like to examine the barriers while I'm at it."
There had been a stronger scent at the well, verifying what the man had said. Of course, the villagers did not possess Oscar's nose and even with that, the trail ended in the reeds slightly off the road. This was a beast of sentience, that he knew what with her purportedly ability to speak, but to what end? The possibilities flicked through his mind like a book—a Leannanshee? Banshee? No, that couldn't be. The man hadn't mentioned any tears… only murmuring. The barriers that villagers had erected outside were far too primitive for an intelligent beast. Pits and stakes might work for animals but if the wolf had the mind of a human? Oscar would have to be the Midden's fence. And he was woefully aware of just how small a fence was with a single post. As he reentered the tavern, the chattering crowd looked upon him with expectant eyes—as if he'd be carrying the beast's head on his hip already. This time however, he did not relinquish his spear to the mayor.
"Your account rings true. I have tracked the beast just outside this town's walls. It appears her lair is beyond the river, or at least not here. You can rest assured—none of these citizens are the monster."
"... Well, where is she then?"
"Show us her head!"
Oscar raised his empty hands. It only incensed the crowd's demands. "Silence! Now, I can promise you that I will not have her head tonight. Beast she may be, this is an intelligent creature we are dealing with here. She may already be aware of my presence—scarpering off to another town, though I doubt it. But I've her scent now... there is no escape from my justice. There is no need for panic—none of you have died by her hands and none will. For tonight, board all the windows and stay in the inn. Do not answer the door no matter what you hear."
"You'll need a better weapon than that, my friend." The mayor shook his head. "Mayhew can accompany you through the night."
"I work better alone. For now, we have no idea of the powers she might possess. I do not wish for civilians to die on my stead."
In spite of his noble words, there was a familiar excitement coursing through his body. How long had it been since he'd last killed something so grand? Pixies in the forest? Even a babe could club an entire colony to death. But a talking, walking spirit who had the foresight for subterfuge? Even his teachers hadn't faced one of those since the war. For a feeling that had laid this dormant for so long, it could be almost be called new. He would wait in the dark for the spirit to return and if she didn't—well, with the villagers out of the way, he'd track her down. There were always signs that the beasts missed—a footprint here, a bloodmark there... yes, there was no way a spirit would run from the mark. Especially for one so far away from home.
"So you claim to have seen this thing, then?"
"If you don't believe me, you can ask any of them. They know I'm not lying." He gestured to the townspeople gathered behind him. Not all of them were frightened, which scared Oscar. The foolish were the worst sort of people to deal with—always interfering with his work. No doubt they'd ask to join in the hunt.
"I believe you. I just find it hard to believe you don't have any more information for me."
"I'm telling you, I found that thing near the well! She's poisoning the water supply—five of us been fallen sick ever since."
"Ah, so it is a 'she'. What gave it away?"
"Don't tell me you're to bed the thing." He laughed nervously, sending a titter round the crowd. Oscar scowled.
"Every detail helps, citizen. But if you think this a mockery, perhaps you ought to send your own guards after the beast. No? Then what gave it away?"
"The hair, I guess." He scratched his head. "Er, the voice. I heard it speaking to the water. It was dark; I didn't see much. Is it a witch?"
"Nay, I would have smelled it as soon as I entered this tavern. That is, if you did as I said. Mayor?"
A dangerously thin man coughed into this sleeve and nodded. Oscar believed him. Even the sick had been temporarily lodged in the guest rooms—not that the village would need them; the Midden wasn't exactly a popular travel destination.
"Alright. Mayor, if I could have my spear. You there," he pointed to the witness, "can take me to the well. Additionally, I would like to examine the barriers while I'm at it."
There had been a stronger scent at the well, verifying what the man had said. Of course, the villagers did not possess Oscar's nose and even with that, the trail ended in the reeds slightly off the road. This was a beast of sentience, that he knew what with her purportedly ability to speak, but to what end? The possibilities flicked through his mind like a book—a Leannanshee? Banshee? No, that couldn't be. The man hadn't mentioned any tears… only murmuring. The barriers that villagers had erected outside were far too primitive for an intelligent beast. Pits and stakes might work for animals but if the wolf had the mind of a human? Oscar would have to be the Midden's fence. And he was woefully aware of just how small a fence was with a single post. As he reentered the tavern, the chattering crowd looked upon him with expectant eyes—as if he'd be carrying the beast's head on his hip already. This time however, he did not relinquish his spear to the mayor.
"Your account rings true. I have tracked the beast just outside this town's walls. It appears her lair is beyond the river, or at least not here. You can rest assured—none of these citizens are the monster."
"... Well, where is she then?"
"Show us her head!"
Oscar raised his empty hands. It only incensed the crowd's demands. "Silence! Now, I can promise you that I will not have her head tonight. Beast she may be, this is an intelligent creature we are dealing with here. She may already be aware of my presence—scarpering off to another town, though I doubt it. But I've her scent now... there is no escape from my justice. There is no need for panic—none of you have died by her hands and none will. For tonight, board all the windows and stay in the inn. Do not answer the door no matter what you hear."
"You'll need a better weapon than that, my friend." The mayor shook his head. "Mayhew can accompany you through the night."
"I work better alone. For now, we have no idea of the powers she might possess. I do not wish for civilians to die on my stead."
In spite of his noble words, there was a familiar excitement coursing through his body. How long had it been since he'd last killed something so grand? Pixies in the forest? Even a babe could club an entire colony to death. But a talking, walking spirit who had the foresight for subterfuge? Even his teachers hadn't faced one of those since the war. For a feeling that had laid this dormant for so long, it could be almost be called new. He would wait in the dark for the spirit to return and if she didn't—well, with the villagers out of the way, he'd track her down. There were always signs that the beasts missed—a footprint here, a bloodmark there... yes, there was no way a spirit would run from the mark. Especially for one so far away from home.