The crisp afternoon breeze slandered against the walls of the city, whistling against the edges. The people of Synor walked the cobblestone streets, voices filled with joy thinking of what was to come that evening. The Walled City of Synor was, and always is, a peaceful and prosperous city. The outer wall standing strong at the base of the hill and always watched by the guards who stand proud from the city gates all the way to the Kings Hall. 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPsjezOfhz
A brown mess of hair stood out over the crowd, guiding a pack horse behind him. Rúni weaved his way through the people, barely acknowledging the mixture of humans, elves and draneum. Brown eyes closed in frustration as he tried to block out the sounds of noisy chatter. Turning down an alleyway, he came to a wooden door, coincidentally the same colour as the stone wall it was in.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcSAVO0x88
Depending on the pub you go to, it can be either noisy or quiet. Rúni was thankful that his usual stop was quiet and not filled with regular disturbances. Moving over to the gate, he handed the string leading his horse to the handler before moving to his seat in the corner. Resting his feet up on the table, his dry hands twisted the pendant hanging from his neck. 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4INdvAIvK
“Same as usual, Rúni?” He didn’t have to speak to give away his answer. Simply nodding his head, he moved his attention to the coin resting in his pocket. Picking out three gold coins, he moved the currency to the edge of the table when the bartender returned with his drink. 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHuYhXyRST
“You know you don’t have to pay until you leave, right?” A voice asked picking up the coin.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTermNPIpsu
“You know that if I don’t pay right away I’ll end up forgetting, Dodger.” Rúni smirked before pulling out his pipe “Besides, it offers the opportunity for conversation.” A spark of flame lit from the end of the pipe, drawing out a puff of smoke. 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhX5I2n4IDM
“If I called you out on not paying, your father would have my head” Dodger sat down after drawing up a second chair. “He does own this place, you’re just giving him money by paying”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sYHDMCQNV
Rúni lifted his arms, using the universal expression for ‘what can you do?’ “He has enough money as it is. Besides, the money eventually comes back to me” He chuckled before drawing from his pipe552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jf5aAt6SE
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A laugh rang out from Dodger “I forgot you were a little sneak.” Rúni’s smirk grew at that “I remember you in this bar, ratting with the old croons in the corner.” 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYRpaKv81V
“Well, you’re one of the old croons now, aren’t you Dodger?” 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7KPLiPDg3
The other customers pretended not to notice the two old friends laughing in the corner, many rolling their eyes at the familiarity of it.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WJhZZfeAn
“So Rúni, are you going to stay in town long?” Rúni’s expression turned from light-heartedness to grim.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCheouTAD4r
“I’ve got to report to my division, then I’ll be moving on to Iorarim. The winds from the North trouble me greatly.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA9jrmK1bW
“You are going to stay for the Midwinter Festival, right? I know that you wouldn’t pass up an opportunity for a free drink.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmA8y30vVA
The corner of Rúni’s mouth curled up in a familiar smirk “You know me too well Dodger.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKYmw56VJK
Dodger himself smiled light-heartedly “Just so you know, I’m not looking for your drunk ass again.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdC7wznS1D
"We both know you’ll do just that.”
Laughter once again rang out from the corner, making everyone else in the room cringe from the sudden noise.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5BbpA3yyO
Rúni looked around, seemingly assessing the area “Well, I’m going to head off now.” Standing up, he added, “I’ll see you tonight Dodger.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy6A4hyGVU
Dodger stood up with him, moving back behind the bar “I’ll be setting up a limit on your drinks kid”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDxeiJ0IkE
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Taking the lead from the handler, Rúni retorted with “Not a kid anymore”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm5Qly4irt
*~*552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplBJEGdsTk
Moving out the door, Rúni made his way out of the alleyway and back onto the main boulevard. He lightly smiled at the decorations that had gone up in the hour that he spent in the bar. Snow fell lightly while he weaved himself and his horse through the crowd, reaching a courtyard where people had conveniently stopped to admire the decorations.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWIPUGzg95
Rúni knew a local when he saw one. For one, when admiring the decorations locals always stood to the side, knowing how busy the roads were at this time. They also knew that despite the season, it didn’t get very cold down south, even if there was snow. Snow never got heavy in the Southern Fields, light snow, and frost was perfectly normal during winter, the later stages of autumn, and the early stages of spring.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5n0n9Zogl
Even if the decorations changed each year, the theme had always remained the same, what would you expect from a festival that celebrated the middle of the year right in the middle of winter. The Midwinter Festival never changed, there was always music, dancing and per Southern Field tradition, free food and drinks. Markets stayed open late and by law weren’t allowed to charge prices after sunset. Albeit, anyone moving to the city for business is shocked at this, but this has been going on for the past Age.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Pm7sbso7a
Drawing his hood over his head, Rúni did his best to remain inconspicuous to the guards and citizens of the City. Although it was expected for him to gain some curious looks from many alike, it wasn’t common to see a rogue such as himself in such a big city. Though unofficially a Citizen of the Synor, as the name goes, Rúni was born and bred in Synor, raised under the guidance of his father, Ragnarr III.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAbW3wkTCp
Reaching the Richfeld Gate, Rúni was immediately greeted with spears from the guards in front of him and arrows pointed from above. Removing his hood, he kept a straight face even when there were two spears aimed at his chest.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCEOj9fFJH
“What business does a Rogue have in the Richfeld District?” The Richfeld is the residence of the nobles and the royal family of the Southern Fields “Speak!” 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8JWXyMkW7
Rúni nodded his head slightly to the guard, before replying in an even voice “I am Rúni, son of Ragnarr III. If you are to ask for identification I’m you can go on that I’m a spitting image of my father when he was my age. If not, you can fetch him yourself. Or you can go find the King himself and tell him that I will be late meeting with him due to you two holding me up here.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIenJe9s3iS
The two guards immediately stepped back, somehow fazed by Rúni’s declaration of identity. 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V64hHk9hT
“Apologies sir, we were unsure because you were due two days ago. In your absence, we were unsure if you had been captured and had been impersonated by an individual with ill intent.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDYEXMVomQ
“Surely the King would’ve told you of the Raven I sent him nigh four days ago, informing him that I would be at least three days behind schedule due to the weather.” 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkfwGKVZmL
“We were not informed, sir.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wAMLlzXXv
Rúni took this into mind, nodding at the guards to open the gate. The two did as ordered and also signalled for the bowmen to stand down. Walking through, Rúni found himself to be in the familiar environment of white stone and blue rooftops. Drawing a breath, he moved through the walkways, already feeling more relaxed by the lack of people. It’s not that he was disgusted by large amounts of poor people, he just felt uncomfortable in a large group.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLdy1ebh8T
Walking through up a familiar set of stairs, Rúni tied his horse out the front of the large house before knocking on the wooden door. Patiently waiting, he was greeted by a maid.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK6UnchvEX
“Oh Rúni, It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you!” She smiled as she brought the much taller man to a hug “Look at you! It’s been ages since you’ve visited, you know, wondered if you would ever return.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq2BxWFiEr
“And leave the old man on his own? That alone would kill him!” Rúni walked into the house ‘Besides, how is the old rascal doing? Rumour spread of him falling ill, I took no note of it seeing as he has a competent nurse-maid looking after him.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD2Q5Bn6nb
“Exactly! And don’t worry about your father Rúni, it was just a cold, it seems to get worse every year.” The old nurse went distant for a moment then snapped back to attention “Oh, where are my manners, I’ll take those for you!” 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdRPiOTQAy
Reaching towards him, Rúni handed her his pack and hood, testing at first to make sure she could handle the weight. Once certain she could handle it, he walked through to the living space, trying not to notice the unused chair next to his father’s.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rccQqAqDy
“Tea? We don’t have anything stronger at the moment I’m afraid, I think you’re father’s waiting until tonight before he buys any.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxx727g5OB
“And the fact that he knows I’ll drink him out of house and home,” Rúni added on 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWWjoUG0D9
“That too. It’s an awful habit of yours, young man, I suggest you cut down on how much you drink.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWp3AwDjZ8
Rúni laughed “Dodger’s already promised to keep an eye on how much I drink.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAchGILJjgh
“Did he now?”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXWjIrgXUn
Rúni turned around and embraced the man at the stairs “Father! How’s the house doing?”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j86pUFyAE
Ragnarr smiled at his soon “The house is fine, boy! You really think I wouldn’t look after this place, not without Mel here!”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp9v4rNuoO
“Of course, with Mel the whole of Synor will fall!”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCIV5iUecd
Mel blush profusely “Oh you boys, Synor will survive without me.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvp96aU58K
Ragnarr turned back to his son “So, where did you go for the past three months?”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIqPt5SVGL
Rúni turned to the seats behind them “You’re going to want a seat for this one because I went all to Agithaer!”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXmYjoS0j8
“No way! I though you only went as far as Rjorna!”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvJs96gqnW
“Well Mel, it was only just past the border. They have a city right there that I had to make an errand to. I would’ve been back to Synor sooner but ice flows in Rjorna delayed me.”552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnkkYhIPcC
“That’s understandable, son. Now, Mel, let’s have a few drinks to pass the time!”
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