《The Betrayer》


 A man fated to die.

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    . The man cursed his poor luck under his teeth as he kept moving, the dim lights of an inn still distant in the darkness of a moonless, wet night


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    . The tall trees that rose to the sides of the road swayed with the wind, and the insects chirped in what seemed like mocking laughter to the traveler¡¯s ears


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    . The walls were of grey stone that framed sets of wooden windows and the red roof tiles, moss had started to get a hold in some places, and it gave the structure a rustic beauty that only travelers and beggars could appreciate


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    ¡°Would the fair traveler want to rent a room for the night? Tis¡¯ a foul night this day, I wouldn¡¯t want to spend the night outside, all wet and freezing¡± -Said the old man with a grin that lacked some teeth


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    ¡°How much would it be for a room and two meals, one now and one as the sun rises, would a bath even be possible?¡± -Said the traveler, rainwater dripping all over the floor from his drenched clothes, his rare deep green eyes drawing the attention of the innkeeper


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    ¡°Are you perhaps¡°The stay and two meals would be one crown and three stones¡± -He muttered immediately after his question, the businessman in him shining through his curiosity,


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    . ¡°I don¡¯t like questions, innkeeper¡±.


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    ¡°Of course, sir¡± -The man smiled this time as he stared at the flash of silver now resting on his palm. ¡°I am nothing but a simple innkeeper, who am I to bother to my esteemed clients¡± -He then took out from behind the counter a simple iron key with the number ¡°11¡± etched into the metal


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    ¡°What have I told you about asking too many questions to our clients, Jakie?¡± -The lady told the innkeeper in an exasperated voice born of repeating the same too many times. She then turned to the traveler with a full smile and made a quick gesture in apology.


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    ¡°Thanks¡± -Said the traveler, as he brought his clenched fist to his heart in a small bow. ¡°If you excuse me, I will go now¡±.


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    . Then the innkeeper¡¯s wife spoke at him in a loud voice, cutting through the idle chatter and the sounds of cutlery of the room


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    . And well, he honestly


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    . Soon he had changed to the only clothes that had kept themselves dry inside his backpack. It was a deep green cloak that a merchant had told him years ago that matched his eyes over traveling brown trousers and a red tunic that had lost some of its colors with time and use


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    . It was a thing of beauty, its curved length was rich in engravings detailing his greatest deeds, his blood, and his vowsbeen gifted


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    . He took a look at his reflection in the windows and ensured the sword was properly hidden before leaving his room for the common room on the first floor


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    ¡°May I get my first meal, ¡°Jakie¡±?¡± -Said the traveler to the innkeeper as he grinned and the man still rubbed his cheek where his wife had pinched him when he saw the traveler


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    . A musician tuning his lute caught his attention, the woman was in her twenties and had a long mane of blond hair that matched her dark eyes and fair skin, she was carefully removing a string from her instrument as she hummed an unfamiliar melody


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    . And the traveler saw that William and her wife pointed at him as the soldiers started unsheathing their weapons and walked towards his table, one soldier standing in the way of the door while the other stood right next to him


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    The traveler kept his eyes low, staring at his stew as he sighed, some days were just


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    ¡°Oi, rise your face so we can take a look¡± -Shouted the first soldier as he went to grab him by his long, black hair.


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    ¡°I was enjoying this stew, you know?¡± -The traveler simply whispered just loud enough to be heard by the soldier, as he rose his own eyes to meet the soldier


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    . William unsheathed his sword and the soldier went pale as he recognized the blade that had conquered lands spanning almost a whole continent in the hands of William¡¯s ancestors


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    . The traveler ran upstairs and grabbed his backpack before sliding three more crowns on the counter


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