2 months before the arrival of Huri the Fate Weaver, late in the afternoon. "Captain there's a situation at the city gates." A guard spoke urgently. "What is it?" "There appears to be a large group of people crowded at the gate." Hulda stood up. "I'll go ahead, you bring a squad just in case." Hulda spoke as she headed out of the guard house, it took her a few minutes, when she saw a large group of people flocked at the gates, yelling. "LET US IN!" She arrived at the gates were a few guards who were stationed there saluted her. "Why are they screaming to be let in?" Hulda asked one of the guards. "I'm not sure captain we've tried asking but there to manic to reason with." The guard answered quickly, she looked through out the crowd. "Everyone, calm down!" She tried to break through to them but they were still frantic. "Captain." A guard called out from behind, Hulda turned and saw the squad she had called for. "Good, i need spearman lined up in front of the gate." She said commanding them. "You heard the captain line up!" The leading guard called out, all at once each spearman lined up in front of the gate spears prepared. "Open the gates!" Hulda yelled out.

  Instantly the gates began to raise, the sound of gears clanking into place as it raised. "Spearman push forward!" Hulda yelled out, once the gate was high enough the spearman began to move forward, the villagers moved back instinctively trying to avoid getting stabbed. "PLEASE STOP, JUST LET US IN!" The villagers cried out. "Halt!" Hulda commanded, all at once they stopped, still holding there spears at the ready. "Are you finally calm enough to talk, or am i going to need my men to use there spears!" Hulda yelled out to them, they were silent. "Who ever is leading you i suggest they step forward for questioning, or else i'm going to have to start executing each of you one at a time." "Wait!" One man raised his hand. "I'm the villager leader take me into questioning i'll answer any of your questions just please don't kill my people." He stepped forward as he spoke, Hulda nodded. "Let him through." the guards made a gap just wide enough to let the man through as soon as he was through they closed the gap. "Fall back, and don't let anyone else through!" Hulda commanded. "Don't do anything rash, just wait till i'm back." The man spoke loudly, Hulda pulled the guard from earlier close, whispering to him. "Bring tents, and make sure they have food and clean water." The guard nodded and began directing the other guards.

  A few minutes later, in the interrogation room of the guard house. "So you lead your people here. For what reason?" Hulda demanded of the man. "A disaster has befallen our village." Hulda stepped back hand rested on her sword. "What sort of disaster?" The man waved his hands trying to calm the captain. "No mam, it's not a disease, please don't needlessly worry yourself." "I'll determine if my worry is needless, now tell me what befell your village?" The man sighed. *Sigh* "Demons have ravaged our village i tried to gather as many of my people as i possibly could but... less than half of my village is here." The man looked down somberly. "What sort of demons?" "They had the shape of men but there flesh looked like burning ash, they attacked like wild animals, and had the strength of a bear." Hulda released her grip on her sword. "I apologize, i have to make sure my city is safe first and foremost. I had to make sure you weren't bringing any danger in with you." The captains voice softened. "I understand, your people are your priority, i would have do the same in your position." "What is your name so i know who to call for when need be." "My name is Warrick, might i ask your name mam?" "My name is Hulda, but call me Captain while were inside the city, And Warrick i had my guards make sure your people have tents, food, and clean water, i can't let you all in without being completely sure i have nothing to worry about." "Thank you Captain, your kindness is greatly appreciated." The man bowed his head. "I'll make sure a small group of guards remains outside with you and your people until i can confirm it is safe to allow you all in."

  An hour later, as the sun was setting, outside the city wall Hulda watched as the guards helped the few villagers who still didn't have a tent yet. "Captain." A guard spoke from behind her, she turned to him before responding. "What is it?" She spoke sternly. "The Lord and Lady, have called for you." The guard gave a slight bow as he spoke. "Then let's not keep them waiting any longer, lead on." She spoke as she gestured for him to lead the way. "Yes Captain."

  A half an hour later they arrived at the castle, and entered into the royal court where the Lord, and Lady sat, awaiting Hulda's arrival, as she reached the steps leading to there thrones she kneeled. "You have called for me, my Lord?" She spoke respectfully. "Yes. captain, i heard there was a group of villagers causing a commotion at the gates. is this true?" The Lord spoke superiorly. "Yes my Lord, but do not worry i have dealt with it." "Did you discover the reason for there brutish behavior?" The lord was adamant. "I would not say they were brutish by any means my lord, only desperate. but yes i have come to find out why they are here." "I did not ask for a judge of there character, only for there motives." The Lord spoke demeaningly. "I apologize my Lord." "I do not need your apologies, only why they are here captain." "Yes my Lord, there village was attacked and they seek refuge in the city." The Lords face showed no expression. "And did you allow them entry?" His voice was plain. "No my Lord." "There's more isn't there?" The Lord spoke more seriously. "I allowed them refuge outside the walls until permission was given for them to enter, i had my men give them food, water, and tents." The Lord sat forward in his seat. "And why is that?" His voice was sharp. "I don't understand what you mean my Lord." "Than let me dumb it down for you, did you get my permission to give them my precious resources." His voice was belligerent. "No my Lord, i assumed..." "You may assume nothing! I am your Lord, you are to think of nothing, you will do nothing, without my express say so, have i made myself clear!" Hulda paused for a moment. "Yes my Lord it won't happen again." "In the morning i want you to send them away, under threat of death if they do not heed my command." The Lords voice was harsh. "Yes my Lord as you wish." "You are excused, leave my presence." Hulda stood, gave one last bow, and left.

  It was dark by the time the Lord sent Hulda away, she decided to head straight to the guard house, it didn't take her long as she entered. "CAPTAINS BACK!" several of the guards yelled, most were dressed casually with a few getting ready to head out for night patrol. "Hey Captain how'd it go with the Lord, and Lady?" one of the younger guards asked Hulda excitedly. "Not good, the Lord wants me to send the villagers away by the morning, with a threat of death if they don't comply." Hulda spoke casually. "That's our Lord for you, these poor people have nowhere to go and of course he turns them away, for what reason?" The same guard spoke, Hulda glared at him for a moment. "You need to be careful how you speak of our Lord, otherwise you might be the subject of an execution." Hulda spoke sternly. "Sorry Captain, your right i shouldn't be so complaisant." He answered affirmatively. "Our Lord says it wasn't my place to give away, "His", precious resources to them, so he wants me to send them away." Hulda spoke withholding her disdain for her Lord, all the other guards nodded, not surprised there lord would stoop to something so petty. "Well, would you like to join us for a round of cards, you know, to lighten the mood?" The young guard asked flustered. "Not tonight, maybe next time. i'll be heading to my quarters to rest, Ashur come wake me in a couple hours." A middle aged, dark skin man nodded to the Captain.

  Just as color began to bleed into the once dark sky, Hulda headed to the gates to inform the village leader of her Lords command, as she exited the gates she could here the laughter of children running the through the camp, she continued and began to walk through the camp, children were playing, and women preparing to do there daily chores, while men helped the weak, or injured, it wasn't long till Hulda found Warrick. "Warrick." She called to him, he looked over at her not moving from what he was preoccupied with. "What is it Captain?" He said with a smile, she stopped a couple feet from him as he helped with an injured old woman who was missing a leg. "I apologize, but i must speak with you." He looked up at her. "Can it wait till after i help this woman?" He asked curious, Hulda shook her head, he stood up calling over a man, he let him know what to do to finish tending to the woman, and began walking with Hulda. "What is so important you had to pull me away?" He asked concerned, Hulda waited a moment before answering. "It would be best for us to speak in private." She spoke seriously, Warrick nodded.

  They headed to over to the forest of Broken Hearts, which was no more than a quarter mile from the camp, they stood at the edge so they could keep an eye out. "Warrick, i have bitter news." Hulda spoke firmly. "My Lord has commanded i remove you and your people from "His" land." She spoke disappointedly. "I see... might i speak with him? maybe we could come to some understanding." He spoke beseechingly, Hulda shook her head. "I'm sorry, if i brought you to him he would take that as treason on my part, and resistance by you, and have the city guard assault the camp." She spoke somewhat somberly. "I understand, a Captain is no greater than the Lord they serve. I hold no ill will against you, in fact all i can truly do is thank you, if you hadn't given us what you had many more might've died." He said as he bowed. "Thank you Captain, if i might ask one last bit of help from you, could you point us to somewhere we might be welcome?" He asked politely. "I suggest heading west to the Land of ?rlagaríkur, it's normally around 3 days walk but with the injured, i cannot say how much longer it will take." She spoke genuinely. "Thank you Hulda, i hope one day we can meet again, under different circumstances." Warrick spoke as he began to walk toward the camp.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  It took less than a day for the villagers to move out completely, leaving behind the tents. "Captain." Hulda looked over, Ashur stood next her setting his hand on her shoulder. "I know it's difficult, but it would have been worse to try and fight his Lords will." Ashur spoke trying to comfort his captain. "I know Ashur, i only hope one day we'll have a new lord who cares for those in need." She spoke with hope in her voice. "Let us return to our duties, they are no longer our concern we must attend to our people." Hulda spoke flatly.

  Several peace filled days passed when it began. "Captain we have a missing person reported by Ingram of the inner court." Hulda sat at a desk sorting through paper work. "And what does he want us to do? The inner court isn't under our jurisdiction." The guard presented a rolled parchment, Hulda took it and unrolled it on her desk using small weights to hold the corners down, she read through it quickly. "Bring Ashur here." Thirty minutes passed, by the time Ashur arrived. "You called for me Captain?" He spoke his voice flat. "Ashur, we have a direct request from the Lord himself. i need you to head to the inner court, and begin investigating the disappearance of the missing noble." "Yes Captain, might i request a small party to help me in my efforts?" His voice was still flat. "No, we don't want any of the other nobles to become concerned, to many guards from the the outer court will raise suspicion something happened." Hulda was stern. "Yes Captain, i will head there immediately."

  At the end of the day in the Guard House, Hulda had headed into the main barracks looking around. "Captain, is there something you need?" "Yes were is Ashur? i don't see him." Her voice was slightly concerned. "I'm not sure i haven't seen him since he left this morning." Hulda's eyes were tense. "Has anyone seen Ashur since this morning?!" She yelled out in a commanding voice for everyone to hear, most of them rambled over one another, but the answer was still the same none of them had seen Ashur. "I Arnór get ready where going go find Ashur." The young man who'd initially spoken to the Captain nodded, as he quickly began getting into his uniform.

  Less than a minute later he was fully suited up, and following Hulda out of the Guard House. "We'll head straight for the inner court." "But captain we have no jurisdiction there, why would Ashur be there." "I sent him to investigate the disappearance of a Noble earlier today." They moved quickly toward the inner court, no more than 10 minutes passed when they arrived at the entrance of the inner court when a guard stopped them. "Halt, what business do you have inside the inner court?" He spoke sternly. "One of my men entered the inner court earlier today to begin an investigation ordered by his Lordship, have you seen him exit yet?" Hulda responded firmly. "I see, no i haven't seen any of the outer court guards exit, but i only took position around an hour ago, so he might have left during an earlier guards shift." The guard answered genuinely. "Is it possible for me to speak to the guard who was stationed here earlier." Hulda didn't ask more so demanded. "I'll look at the shift order and give you there addresses." Hulda nodded, a minute passed and the guard exited the gate house with a small parchment. "This has each of there names, and where they live, i hope you can find who your looking for." Hulda took the parchment, and began walking away while reading it. "Arnór you take this one, i'll take the other one, we'll meet back up the guard house." Arnór nodded as he headed off.

  Hulda rushed to the west side of the city taking shortcuts through the alley's, it took her around a half hour to arrive at the guards home she knocked violently on the door till she heard shuffling behind the door, then it opened. "Hello?" A women answered the door. "Is there a George here?" Hulda asked calmly. "Yes, George is my husband why is something wrong?" The woman asked concerned. "No, i just need to ask him some questions, you know guard to guard." She said gesturing to her uniform to calm the woman down. "Okay uh. George there's someone here to speak to you!" The woman called to her husband, a moment passed before the man came from a back room, he rubbed his eyes. "Why do you need to speak to me at such a late hour." He spoke rudely. "I apologize sir, i just need to ask if you had seen one of my guards exit the inner court while you were on shift this morning." Hulda spoke respectfully. "Huh." The man took a closer look at Hulda's uniform. "Oh, your a guard of the outer circle, no, i remember him entering, but he never left while i was on duty." Hulda's eyes were sharp as daggers. "Are you sure." Her voice was slightly stern, the man visibly shivered. "y... Yes, he never came back, but when it was time for me to switch with another guard, as i headed to the barrack i saw him speaking with Cardinal Matteo." The man rushed his answer. "Anything else?" Hulda spoke flatly, eyes still sharp. "No, when i had went back through that area while on patrol he was gone, but that was an hour later maybe he left in between that time." "..." Hulda her gaze a few moments longer. "Thank you for cooperating, that would have been difficult otherwise." Hulda spoke, as she walked heading back towards the northern part of the City, once out of sight the man lost his balance, barely catching the doorframe, his wife still next to him. "George, what's wrong, are you okay?" The man was catching his breath. "That was her... She's the one who killed the previous outer circle Captain in cold blood and took his position." The mans voice was shaky. "Let's get you back to bed, i'll bring you a cup of wine to calm your nerves." The man nodded as he headed to the back room.

  As Hulda arrived at the guard house she looked around to see if Arnór was anywhere around, she didn't see him so she headed inside to see if he had already arrived and was waiting for her, she entered the barracks most of the men were asleep but a few were still awake at the opposite end, Hulda walked over to them, once she was a few feet away. "Has Arnór arrived yet?" She spoke sternly, the men were caught off guard but one of them answered quickly. "No Captain, we haven't seen him since you both left." Hulda's became nervous at his answer. "Get to sleep tomorrow is going to be a long day for everyone." Hulda said as she rushed out of the guard house, she scanned the streets in all directions, she still didn't see Arnór, she decided she'd go to were the other guard was in case he was still questioning him.

  The other guard was in the north east part of the city it only took Hulda around 10 minutes to reach it, once there she looked around but didn't see Arnór, she went over to the guards house and knocked loudly, the door opened quickly. "I told you i didn't see... oh my apologies someone else was here just a moment ago." "Can you tell me which direction they left?" Hulda asked calmly. "He went west, i assume he was headed to the northern guard house, but i can't say for certain." The man answered concerned. "Is something wrong?" The man asked nervously. "No, i apologize sir." Hulda responded professionally and walked away, the man closed the door. "I need to calm down it probably just took him a bit longer to arrive." Hulda thought to herself as she headed back to the guard house.

  As she arrived at the guard house she decided to wait outside for a moment to calm her nerves. "I'm sure Ashur's fine, Cardinal Matteo probably offered him to stay the night at the church and Ashur accepted." Hulda tried to make a logical conclusion to an otherwise strange situation. "Arnór shouldn't be lost, i know he's still green but one of the basics of training is memorizing your way around the city." Hulda thought to herself as she looked around.

  10 minutes passed and Hulda was still outside waiting. "Where is he?! unless he's a complete imbecile he should have been here already." Hulda's thoughts were restless, a moment passed when she heard groaning and the silent sound of metal scraping against the ground, Hulda quickly looked to where the sound was coming from, her eyes grew wide and she ran over, Arnór was dragging himself on the ground. "Arnór!" Hulda Yelled, as she reached him she flipped him over and laid him against her. "Arnór, what happened?!" "s... someone k, k... Kidnapped Ashur." His voice was faint as he stuttered. "What are you talking about Arnór who did this to you?!" "C, Captain someone kidnapped Ashur... and tried to kidnap me aswell." Arnór forced himself to speak up. "Who did Arnór, who kidnapped Ashur?" Her voice was angered. "I, I... I couldn't see, they wore a cloak it... hid there face." Hulda began to drag Arnór to the guard house. "AAH!" Arnór screamed in pain, Hulda set him down quickly. "I'm sorry Captain... didn't mean to scare you... i was just surprised." Arnór spoke in between breathes. "Captain... I don't... I don't think i'm gonna make it." His voice was sad, as tears began to roll down his face. "Don't talk like that Arnór, i'm gonna get you inside and were going to get you healed up good as new." Hulda tried to sound calm but her voice betrayed her. "Captain..." He wheezed. "Kill the son of a bitch who did this to me." His voice faded as he spoke, he went silent. "Arnór?... Arnór!" Hulda gripped his body as he lay there lifeless.

  This was only the beginning, as more and more disappeared leaving Hulda desperate, when one day a month after the kidnappings began, a man entered the city, he found Hulda and offered her help, as long as she accepted he would make sure the perpetrator would be caught, she accepted without hesitation, he informed her it would be awhile but he would send someone he knew could do the job, Hulda tried to question the man further but he said he'd keep in touch with her, a couple weeks passed by before the man contacted her again via a letter, it informed her of the man who would be arriving in the city, and that his name is Huri.