Prologue

It was in the whispers of the evening when the last wick burnt out in the cabin. Amongst the dimming light the shadows etched deep lines on a vacant face. A lone man sat in the deafening silence stupefied by the day's events. Only hours before he had been an honored knight within his kingdom. Now here he sat deprived of all his life's work and left to rot with the rest of the filth of the kingdom.

He was the owner of a shattered future. Perhaps though, even merely being left with no hope would have been better. For this former knight also had to pay the price of politics and carry out a sentence of false crimes that had been levied against him by his betters. Such was the bitter pill that was made to lay before him.

Did he simply give in and let the fiends who imprisoned him in this shack win, or did he do the unthinkable and abandon his home. Protecting this place had been the whole reason to keep on living. To bring a future to those who could not through their own strength find a way into tomorrow. Hanging his head in shame was the most he could muster in this moment. The perfect scapegoat in all ways with no family or standing outside of having been knighted for exemplary deeds on the battlefield.

There were no connections which to bring to bear to try and figure out who was behind this fabricated claim of trying to insight a rebellion against the crown. Nor were there any deep pockets from which to bring forth the wealth to make some turn their eyes the other way. In all ways he had been the standard knight in status. Only now was the realization that his lack of promotion the primary source of this dilemma.

Gritting his teeth, he dug up what little resolve he had left. He reached deep within and swore that he would not simply let himself become yet another stone to be stepped on. There were no guards about his enclosure as escape mattered little at this point as the play of cloak and daggers had already been danced. The verdict was "self-evident" as many had said. What mattered now was going as far away from this place to where none would know him so he could start anew.

Slowly he gathered what belongings were strewn about and prepared for the long task before him. With what little money he had earned through his post he spent on his own personal equipment amongst which numbered a simple spear, long-sword, and a gambeson.

While normally the lord that a knight served would provide the equipment and training of his chosen knight retainers, some would still opt to invest in some equipment of their own so they could fight in a way that more suited their taste rather than what the liege could afford in bulk. It was for this reason that he purchased weapons and armor more conducive to mobility that he had made the investment that would now prove to be his sole recourse for escaping this situation.

Opening the door before him he looked up at the stars of his homeland one last time. The lights danced and the wind blew ushering him away from an inevitable demise.

The shape of the building at his back began to fade and became obscured by the encroaching forest. Languidly he moved one foot after the other. Each step a dagger in his heart. In quick succession memories flooded in, a cacophony of joy and remorse.

With every move he had to abandon these ties and moments. This was the price that must be paid to move forward into tomorrow. In all ways but physical he had to perish. To be born anew through the flames that now consumed every meaning for living that once compelled his every thought.

Gradually his feet gained momentum. Before long he broke out into a full sprint fleeing from all of the pain. At this point he didn't even know where he was fleeing to. But that was as it should be. The blur of the branches and trunks soon melded into the orchestra of the life in the woods. Insects and owls sung their lonesome tunes in harmony with the weight of his heart.

He began to blend together with nature as his thoughts became less and less coherent. No longer thinking of what was left behind he blindly charged ahead into the dark expanse until he too faded into the darkness.