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- Go away! what are you looking for? INTRUDERS! - the guard shouts. Servants start looking for places to hide.

"Shit! That's what you get when you try let people live.", Hans mutters and goes for a kill.

Hans charges towards the wounded guard. In the same time, the servant who stormed out of the manor to investigate stables, spots Gunther and the older guard lying bounded outside.

- Ottmar? - he recognizes him - wh-what happened? - he grabs him and drags to the doors, to hide him inside.

Hans knocks out the wounded guard with a sudden pommel strike to the face.

Meanwhile:

Ruthard charges inside the room, shield in front and sword held high, while Georgius pulls the trigger.

The bolt grazes Ruthard's hip, but does little else to stop the enraged warrior. With a swift motion the albino thrusts his sword downward, breaking the priest's knee with a sickening snapping sound. Georgius falls to the floor.

Ruthard grabs him by the throat, ditches the sword and the shield, pulls out one rondel, and at blade point he starts speaking.

- The only thing I want from you is your blood you fucking murderer. Do you remember me? Do you remember my father you fuck? What have you done to the villagers? Why are they acting like lunatics? If there's a chance you might live, tell me everything about it and how it can be undone. Otherwise you don't even begin to comprehend what you will suffer. Now, start talking!

With that last exclamation Ruthard pierces Georgius palm to the wall with his rondel, and takes out the other rondel he took from the guard. Georgius screams in pain, but quickly composes himself.

- Yes, yes I can stop them! We can do this together. Take me to them!

Georgius is excited, and even forgets about the pain. Ruthard narrows his eyes.

- I'll take you to them. And don't think about doing anything funny. Just set them free priest.
- I will do as wish, Ruthard. But you must help me. And I need my censer. I'll tell them to go back to their huts and rest, and tomorrow they will be fine, I promise. Just help me get there. Oh and we need to cover the censer in this rain, the smoke must reach everyone.
- What is this smoke you used on them? And of about the ruling lord? Who pulls the strings? Explain yourself!
- We don't have the time for this, I'm afraid - he says in the sweetest voice he can produce in this situation - we must hurry.
- You don't understand the situation "father". The only reasons I haven't killed you *yet* is that I want these villagers freed from this curse, and you clearing my name. But make no mistake. I have led a hundred men, sacked cities, defeated armies, even besieged Rome for one winter. I have no problem at all severing your head, climb the back wall, and flee this accursed place. Do you think I'm afraid one bit of anyone or anything ? Better start talking priest. Fast. Before I loose my patience.
- It is YOU who doesn't understand. The guard's captain is getting ready for combat and organizing his men. If we don't hurry they will cut our way to the door. You have defeated two guards, but can you do the same with four, their captain and lord Erich himself? The poison will start working soon. We better hurry!
- Six men? Bah. Told you again you fuck, I'm not afraid of any man. Give me the antidote NOW priest, then explain the situtation. Otherwise I'll gut you like a fish, then send you to Hell as my herald!
- B-but there is no antidote!
- Then die a horribly death you wretch. And pray to God I won't find you in the afterlife.

Ruthard already had Georgius by the throat. He pushes him hard to the wall, then thrusts his rondel like an ice-pick to the priest's right eye, pinning him to the wall. He then cuts off Georgius' head. Calmly he replaces his weapons, wraps the severed head in a torn curtain and ties the grizzly trophy to his belt, sets fire to the room, and sword in hand, carefully gets out of the room.

Ruthard joins the group in the kitchens and tells them what happened. They are planning their next move, but then they hear some noises in the great hall.



In the opposite end of the hall there are armed men. Three guards in the front line, with shields and spears ready to receive a charge. Behind them their captain - armored fully with segmented plate, supplemented by mail gussets and an open helmet with aventail, and holding a wicked bardiche. But the most striking figure stands further away, on the dais, assisted by another guard - knight in a beautiful suit of plate armor, with a lifted visor and a longsword on his belt. His face has seen many battles, but looks handsome and vigorous still, and his voice is clean and calm, but resounding:

- Looks like we have visitors... what brings you here, my friends?

Karl looks like he's about to say something, and is then halted by something unseen. He squints, peering at Erich, then at Ruthard, and then once more at each of the men. For a moment, there is a look of slack-jawed confusion on his face...

- What have you, lost your tongues? - sir Erich asks slightly angered, but quickly he recomposes himself and continues in his usual courteous manner - Oh, I know you! You are Karl... Karl Halhoffer, right? Brave, brave man of honor, and his lovely wife and son. What a pleasure to have you here... But, I believe there *must* be reason you came here armed, right? Please, explain yourself.

The captain of the guard - known for his ferocity, strength and skill in combat - grunts and almost writhes, like he couldn't wait to start a bloodshed, but sir Erich calms him down with a short hand gesture.

Hans looks around nervously, not liking the situation one bit. He would rather be somewhere else, somewhere else where not so many point and sharp things were aimed at his direction.

Karl wrings his hands around his spear's haft, betraying a slight anxiety.

"You have forced my hand, Sir Erich. My family have nothing but what we have in this village, and your madness threatens to leave us with nothing. You have made me a desperate man, and so I must take desperate measures."

Karl pauses.

"Why would you do this? To your own village?"

Do what, good sir? What are you talking about? - Erich seems genuinely puzzled. If there is anything wrong going in the village, I'm the first to help you... What can I do for you?

"Sir, villagers have gone completely mad! They roam the village in mobs and attack practically everyone!", Hans continues.

Ruthard remains silent and keeps glaring at lord Erich - always ready for violence - and prepares to make a move, but not before the bastard replies to Hans.

- And who are you? Erich asks, and briefly looks at his captain seeking answer, but the only response is shoulder shrug.

"Just a travelling carpenter, sir. I came to your fine village to find shelter from the upcoming storm when villagers tried to attack me. Terrible thing, sir. Most terrible.", Hans answers.