boots. Do tell me more. Regale me with the torturously sadistic history of your Master. I think you’ve had enough to drink, mate. I also think you should leave now while you are still breathing.”
“And why would I be afraid of you, man? You’re just a—“
“You don’t know what I am,” he said, the deadly inflection in his voice was noticed by the barmaid. Her eyes widened further, and she continued looking furtively between them. She could sense that he was this close to lashing out at the fool.
“I’m a wild man, with a wild heart, and I’ve been known to do terrible things when anyone rubs me the wrong way. And you, mate, you are definitely rubbing me the wrong way. Get out now, or so help me I will do something that will haunt your nightmares for years to come.”
With those final words of his, the barmaid made a fast exit. She no doubt was running to Neri for her help. Neri couldn’t do anything to save this pitiful excuse for a human being. He was in Lucan’s crosshairs now, and he was going to make certain that this stupid slob rued the day he ever set foot in his family’s Tavern.
“I don’t take orders from the likes of you. You are a stranger in this village. You have stepped into quicksand, my friend. You are going to be so sorry you ever spoke so harshly to me. You will be in Pauper’s Field before the night is through.”
Lucan sat and regarded him silently for about two minutes. Rage flowed throughout him, like water trickling through one of the fancy fountains found on the grounds of Alby Palace. He was no longer the hotheaded callow youth he’d been, when he’d left Glynneath Village.
Now he knew how to bide his time when it was necessary. True, he’d allowed his passions to get the better of him when he dealt with Ramsey.
This particular man was just filled with too much bravado and way too much hot air. He wasn’t actually threatening anyone but him with grievous harm, so in a way, he entertained Lucan more than riling him into a killing rage.
“I am not your friend, mate. I am also no stranger to this village—but you and your lot are strangers to me. And I confess, I don’t like you, and I certainly won’t like your Lord Ulwyn. Any man who has to give himself a title to soothe his enlarged ego in a bid to compensate for his lack of balls, isn’t worth my time anyway. I want you to leave this Tavern of mine within the next five minutes and you’ll leave the way you entered.
If you don’t heed my warning, you will regret not doing so. I’ve seen terrible things, things that would make that greasy hair of yours stand on end. Even though I’ve seen great atrocities, I’ve never seen a village run by a madman like Lord Ulwyn. Not in the kingdom of Shardizar, anyway.
He is supposed to be the protector for those who work his lands. He’s supposed to make them feel safe. Instead, he’s the monster of their nightmares. I’m here to rectify that. I’m here to save these people from their tormentor. You run back to your master like a faithful little puppy and tell him that the prodigal son has returned. You tell him that Sir Lucan Wylde is back.”
At his bold declaration, the man’s hands started to shake. His eyes filled with fear. It was good to know that even though Lucan had been gone for a long time, his legacy still remained to strike fear into the hearts of lesser men like the grease ball in front of him.
It didn’t hurt that the King had widely publicized Grifon’s return and when Grifon’s name was mentioned, the men from the rest of the Order also made headlines. They’d earned quite the reputation in the last two months, as the fiercest Knight Mages that the Realm had ever known. Some said they could not be killed—others said they’d been blessed by the Gods and Goddesses themselves and possessed the powers of a Demi-God.
He didn’t think that any sensible person would believe those far-fetched rumours. Fortunately for him, the village idiot
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