Lord Skarde's Residence

The night was utterly still as I laid on the roof of Lord Skarde's perfectly hidden in the shadows of the night. The air was cold and sharp carrying the faint scent of pine from the trees around us, the silence so profound I could hear the blood rushing to my ears. So far so good, nothing unusual had happened. Lords Skarde's residence was as ordinary as it could be, except for the occasional servants walking about to attend to their owners.

I had been here for ten minutes, crouch low against the tiles as I silently waited, observing and for the right moment. The estate's high stone walls seemed to absorb the moonlight, casting the grounds in a blanket of darkness, save for the faint glow of lanterns lining the perimeter.

Though as I stayed in my hideout, I thought back to how Heather had been amazed when she saw me this other way. She had immediately sat me down and braided my hair into two long cornrows which she pinned at the back with a lot of pins. I like the hairstyle, I could now move freely without my hair getting into my face.

 Heather had also been on the lookout, she had also showed me a secret passageway in the servants quarters, most people believed it to be hunted with the ghost of a servant girl that died unjustly but Heather claimed it was just an old wives tale used to scare young children into submission.

In all my life here, I never knew of such passageway and it was a little bit unsettling as much as it was exciting. I could slip in and out of the castle without anyone noticing, I had a clear route which would make things a whole lot easier for me.

Slight adjusting my position on the roof, I leaned closer but the roof tiles let out a small creak. I stiffened, holding my breath as I peered down below but nothing happened. Beneath, the guards did not move, their visage concealed by the weight and prominence of their helmets, frozen like status beside the entrance to the main house. One thing I did notice was how Lord Skarde seemed to have fortified his house with such high walls and guards. But it did seem to be a little excessive, he was just a nobleman so what else could he possibly be hiding?

Guess that's what you are here to find out! My mind whispered back to me.

Adjusting the mask on my face, I was about to move deeper when all of a sudden I heard a noise. It was the sound of the door opening, followed by some scuffling. I leaned closer trying to see what happened when all of a sudden the door creaked open and people were thrown out of the door.

The youngest of them all, a boy held on to an old looking man who had tears streaming down his weathered face. Behind them was a girl who looked to be in her teenage years, almost the same age as Lagertha held on to her clothes, tears streaming down her face as she glared at someone who was stepping out of the door.

I couldn't make out the face of whoever what it was, because the night swallowed the details, but when he spoke, I knew who it was. Simply because it was a voice I knew all too well, one I've heard countless of times in my father's court.

Also there was also the usual sneer, even in the darkness I could feel it in his tone, could also imagine it on his face.

Lord Skarde!

"You all have been warned." He drawled out, "Get out of this place or you won't like what happens next."

The old man shuffled forward, raising his wrinkled arm in sign of pleading. "Please sire, we've given all we have."

"Really, you here that boys?" Lord Skarde called to the guards standing next to him, "He says he's give all he has and guess what? It's the same money I paid him for his weekly pay!" Lord Skarde said his voice filled with disbelief.

Laughter rang out in the night, Lord Skarde's guards laughing as if he told one funny joke. I had to fist my hands at the sight and willed myself to remain calm, I was only here to watch not interfere!

Lord Skarde stepped forward and I could make out the profile of his face thanks to the glow of the lantern one of the servants carried. "Well, Edgar, I do believe you." He drawled out, "You've actually given all that you have and now you can leave."

"But my son is in there, I can't leave without my son, I can't…" Edgar stepped forward but one of the guard stepped in front of him and gave him a kick to his chest.

A low growl rumbled out of me as I clenched my fist hard, watching helplessly as the man fell down to the ground. The boy and the girl tried to catch him but his weight sent them all crashing down to the floor.

"Hearing is always the first to go during old age, it's a shame really." Lord Skarde tuts as he approached the man who was now glaring at him.

Got to say that I was impressed with the man's bravery! But he wouldn't act on it, he wasn't stupid to believe he could take on Lorde Skarde and his men.

"Please…" Edgar called again, "Give me my son, he will die in that place and you know it!" Edgar screamed his voice filled with pain.

My ears perked up at the information I had just learnt. Heather had mentioned something about Lord Skarde taking another mode of payment. It's been said he has and underground cage where he allows men that evade task beat themselves up and the fight is to the death. The only one left standing, if he survives is sent out with a reward and given his live back, but the things is no one ever see the winners after the fight, it's like they simply vanish.

Lord Skared leaned forward. So he could glare at Edgar, "It's a good thing you know, guess you better hurry and start praying to the gods!" He said before he turned away, "Now remove them from my property, beat them up if you must!" Lord Skarde ordered his guards who immediately did as he asked.

"Bastard!" I whispered under my breath.

And almost as if he heard me, Lord Skarde turned to look at me and I immediately bent down, my heart beating fast in my chest at almost being caught by Lord Skarde. I remained utterly still but nothing happened, the only sound I could hear was the cry of the family being dragged off.

By the time I looked up Lord Skarde was already gone and there were a few bloodstains on the ground!