Sir Lar

The large debtors’ village facing Turmhole Dam sat peacefully in the morning chill. A faint yet piercing breeze wove through the town, creating a tapestry of snow covered homes and drifting streets. All was quite except for the sound of river water, still flowing between frozen shores.

The still, cold morning air was interrupted by shouts coming from inside the upper tower of Sir Lar’s keep. “Father, you fool!” Sir Lar screamed as he read a letter regarding his father’s recent squeal to Bartholomew. “I will soon have Jerican swarming my Debtor yards.” He threw the letter into a crackling fire where it was consumed. “It will only be a matter of time before the Land Dragon project is found out. And with ten of the titans built and five more in construction there will be no way I will be able to move or even hide them in time.” Sir Lar put his arm against the mantle of his fire place and gazed into the flame. The room was warm and snug, but to Sir Lar it was suffocating. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. Sir Lar lowered his tone to a frantic whisper. “I guess losing Tristy wasn’t enough, he had to go and get me killed as well. I should have known that making any kind of deal with him was a bad idea. Never try to earn a profit by standing between a lapdog and his meat biscuit.”

The door to Sir Lar’s study opened slowly and Samuel Haley quietly entered the room. Sir Lar turned his head to see his old tutor then turned back to the flames.

“Tolgen, was that you making such a fit?” Samuel asked as he stepped into the center of the room. “Is something troubling you?”

“My father went and resigned us to the gallows, Sam. He reported to Bartholomew that I have been involved in some interesting projects.”

“Oh, Did he? That could be distressing.” Samuel Haley said with a hint of impassiveness. He walked to Sir Lar and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It will all be well, Tolgen… I wouldn’t worry too much about your safety.” Samuel left Sir Lar’s side and walked over to a bookshelf that was near the door.

Sir Lar turned to face his old friend. “I didn’t mean to greet you with that, Sam. How was your trip to West Port?”

“It was good… Productive is probably the better word.” Samuel Haley took a book from the shelf and leisurely brushed through the pages.“ I think you will be happy to know that I brought a visitor back with me from West Port. She is very eager to see you.”

Sir Lar left the fireplace and approached his heavy oak desk. He then lowered himself into a thick wooden chair. “Who from West Port would I have any interest in seeing?”

“Perhaps the dead.” Samuel Haley smiled and set the book he was holding back on the shelf. Sir Lar stared at the old man with a puzzled look on his face. Samuel Haley began searching through the spines of the books on the shelves. “I wouldn’t worry about Bartholomew and his agents… She won’t let anything happen to you.” He picked up another book from the bottom shelf and turned around to face Sir Lar. “I would be much more worried about her and her… Demons.”

“Who? What are you talking about, Sam!?” The beads of sweat that had built up on Sir Lars forehead now began to stream down the sides of his face.

Samuel ‘s turned his body toward Sir Lar. “Abatha… Tristy…” eight personages emerged from various points around the room almost as if they had come out of the walls. “…LAR!!” They all said in an unnatural unison.

Sir Lar stumbled out of his chair and backed against the window behind his desk. “What is this Samuel?” Steam and hissing came from the fireplace as the flames went dead. A faint blue light coming from outside the study’s window was the only thing that offered visibility to the room.

“Don’t be afraid, Tolgen.” whispered one of the eight personages as it crept into the light. “You don’t need to be afraid anymore.”

“Who are you?!” Sir Lar called back.

“I am Madness…Brother.” The personage came to the front of Sir Lar’s Desk and removed its hood, to reveal two unmistakable, big, blue eyes.
“Tristy!” Sir Lar said in disbelief.

“You’re lucky, Tolgen; you will find peace much earlier than me.” Tristy turned her back around and began to walk into the darkness of the room.

“Tristy, what are you…” her figure was replaced by a hail of arrows that quickly ended Sir Lar’s life.

“What are you thinking girl!!” Samuel shouted out as he ran to the body of Sir Lar. “I did not tell you to kill him.”

Tristy turned back to face her now deceased brother. “I spared him, Samuel. I did not want him to live in fear the way I do.” Tristy walked to the door “You made me this creature, so do not blame me if my actions seem unusual.” Tristy’s voice changed to a command, “See to it that Bartholomew receives all of the plans to Sir Lar’s projects.” Tristy and the seven other personages fled the room.

Samuel Haley knelt alone in the room with the body of Sir Lar. “I thought that she had come to protect you, Tolgen. It is dreadful that even I, a High Priest of Madness, could not have seen this move. I had no idea how perfectly she would fit her role as the new Legend of Madness.” Samuel pulled a white handkerchief from his breast coat pocket and laid it over Lar's face. “Although, I think she was right when she said that you were spared from this war. I only wish that she had chosen another way.”