The Hood- Chapter Two; The City of Charlotte
Welcome to Charlotte
As Lachlan made his way through the cobblestone streets of Avalon, he quickly had to reassess what he knew of the capital. Its narrow street charm with majestic stone walls were still evident but the haggard faces of the populous hindered the view. The smell of human sweat, animal filth mixed with a certain dank unidentifiable aroma overcame the senses. Lachlan could withstand the ugliness no longer and stepped into a Gin House to retreat from the dismal atmosphere of the streets. Lachlan pulled his cape's hood over his face and sat in the darkest corner he could find. Throughout the night he overheard the speak of the common men.
“ Two of me children died this month- I canst keep going on.” One pockmarked patron remarked to his red haired friend. “I thoughts that when the Great King Harald chopped thems thieving nobles heads off- it would gets better.” The red haired man put his calloused hands on his emaciated friend’s shoulder. “It ain't King Harald’s fault- It is King Lincoln and his fancy foreign war- what do we care about the people of Palladium? It is here we’re starving.”
Lachlan wanted to interrupt and say that King Lincoln had no knowledge of what was happening here in Avalon- that Harald’s dispatches told nothing but glowing tales of happy workers, peace and prosperity. 'The Hero' knew that for now he had to open his ears and close his mouth.
Pockmark nodded agreement “King Harald and Vector at least give us a regular paycheck- no matter how small it is. Something is better than nothing. And nothing is what we had before he took over thems rich posh Nobles.“
Lachlan suspected that it was The Pretender who kept all their money and blamed it on the Nobles. Using that as an excuse he must have made himself the sole voice of authority in Avalon by killing the nobility. After which it seems he paid a pittance to the workers, no enough to live on, and blamed King Lincoln and the war for any short fall. These men hated their true king and his representatives, the Nobles. Lachlan knew that there was no man in Charlotte who could save him. Here he was no hero for, to them, he was the enemy.
Lachlan was just checking his pocket watch to see what time the Gin House closed and his respite would disappear, when suddenly the room became quiet. A Brass Knight noisily made his way into the room. “Workers, I have an announcement. One of the greatest thieves, Lord Lachlan, known to some as The Hero, has snuck into our fair city of Charlotte. This man is a known rapist of worker virgins. He would use his filthy money, obtained from whipping the backs of his workers, to silence the victim’s fathers. Our King fears for your daughters. With your help he promises that he will flog the skin from this villain and place his head on the steel wall. If you see this tyrant, report it to a Brass Knight. For this you will be paid no less than 500 guldens." Lachlan was now doomed by the lies of a worm.
The room was a buzz as half the workers cursed Lachlan’s name and the other half made plans for what they would do with the money. Lachlan knew he had no choice but to flee at the first opportunity and reside within the depths of forest. It would be best if at this moment his personage was as far from the workers of Charlotte as was possible.
Amidst the ruckus Lachlan made his escape. When he reached outside he gave a prayer to God as the Almighty had sent a fog to blanket Charlotte and hide the renegade noble. Lachlan stowed away in a trader's steam carriage until it brought him into the dense Lyre Forest. There he was to spend a cold wet night lying on a lichen bed beneath a massive oak. In this dark wood Lachlan had time and the required privacy to shed tears for his countless losses and the misery of his current situation. Finally he succumbed to sleep.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED CHAPTER TWO- CLICK HERE TO GO TO CHAPTER THREE.
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“ Two of me children died this month- I canst keep going on.” One pockmarked patron remarked to his red haired friend. “I thoughts that when the Great King Harald chopped thems thieving nobles heads off- it would gets better.” The red haired man put his calloused hands on his emaciated friend’s shoulder. “It ain't King Harald’s fault- It is King Lincoln and his fancy foreign war- what do we care about the people of Palladium? It is here we’re starving.”
Lachlan wanted to interrupt and say that King Lincoln had no knowledge of what was happening here in Avalon- that Harald’s dispatches told nothing but glowing tales of happy workers, peace and prosperity. 'The Hero' knew that for now he had to open his ears and close his mouth.
Pockmark nodded agreement “King Harald and Vector at least give us a regular paycheck- no matter how small it is. Something is better than nothing. And nothing is what we had before he took over thems rich posh Nobles.“
Lachlan suspected that it was The Pretender who kept all their money and blamed it on the Nobles. Using that as an excuse he must have made himself the sole voice of authority in Avalon by killing the nobility. After which it seems he paid a pittance to the workers, no enough to live on, and blamed King Lincoln and the war for any short fall. These men hated their true king and his representatives, the Nobles. Lachlan knew that there was no man in Charlotte who could save him. Here he was no hero for, to them, he was the enemy.
Lachlan was just checking his pocket watch to see what time the Gin House closed and his respite would disappear, when suddenly the room became quiet. A Brass Knight noisily made his way into the room. “Workers, I have an announcement. One of the greatest thieves, Lord Lachlan, known to some as The Hero, has snuck into our fair city of Charlotte. This man is a known rapist of worker virgins. He would use his filthy money, obtained from whipping the backs of his workers, to silence the victim’s fathers. Our King fears for your daughters. With your help he promises that he will flog the skin from this villain and place his head on the steel wall. If you see this tyrant, report it to a Brass Knight. For this you will be paid no less than 500 guldens." Lachlan was now doomed by the lies of a worm.
The room was a buzz as half the workers cursed Lachlan’s name and the other half made plans for what they would do with the money. Lachlan knew he had no choice but to flee at the first opportunity and reside within the depths of forest. It would be best if at this moment his personage was as far from the workers of Charlotte as was possible.
Amidst the ruckus Lachlan made his escape. When he reached outside he gave a prayer to God as the Almighty had sent a fog to blanket Charlotte and hide the renegade noble. Lachlan stowed away in a trader's steam carriage until it brought him into the dense Lyre Forest. There he was to spend a cold wet night lying on a lichen bed beneath a massive oak. In this dark wood Lachlan had time and the required privacy to shed tears for his countless losses and the misery of his current situation. Finally he succumbed to sleep.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED CHAPTER TWO- CLICK HERE TO GO TO CHAPTER THREE.
HOME