There sat in the far corner of a distant land a small town. An unassuming and, frankly, unremarkable little place just large enough to be included on maps but still small enough that most everyone who lived there knew one another. It had enough things to keep its fragile economy alive; a mill, a mine, access to the river for decent fishing, good flat land for farming. It also sat near a well-traveled crossroad, meaning that the occasional visitors came through to spend their coin eating at the tavern and sleeping at the inn. But this town and its people were all in all very comfortable with the small niche they had in the world and never went actively looking for trouble of any sort.

That is of course when trouble found them.

It was on a particularly cloudy day, the kind where the scent of rain hangs heavy in the air, that a visitor came from the crossroads. At first glance he didn’t seem particularly out of place; he was a man, a little on the tall side, broadly built with a look of concentration upon his face. It was upon gazing at him for longer than a moment that he appeared to be different. He had wild mane of long brown hair, and his square jaw sported a neatly trimmed beard. By far the most striking thing about him, though, were his eyes and cloak. The man ensconced himself in a well-worn cloak in an odd shade of violet and gazed at the world with silvery blue eyes.

Despite the odd look that would come his way as he went, however, the man continued his march down the town’s main road toward the tavern. As he approached, he stopped for just a moment to gaze up at the sign that hung just above the door. ‘The Wooly Wildcat’ read the signs’ elegant lettering, etched around a simply ink drawing of a thick furred cat. The suggestion of music and conversation murmured from within the tavern, and the aromas of rising breads and roasting meat wafted out of the slightly open door. The man’s gaze shifted down from the sign to the door’s handle and he reached out to grasp it. He carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

The interior of the tavern was as plain as the exterior. The whole of the building was built from wood, the obvious exception being the fireplace, with some places having been carved to depict animals or trees and the like. Several round wooden tables lined the far right side of the tavern, while the back portion contained a small stage for various people to sing and perform for patrons. To the immediate left of walking in and halfway down was a bar with many stools. The tavern was far from full, but enough people were seated within to fill the air with the sound of conversation as a woman sang a gentle song upon the stage in the back.

As the man entered, a woman behind the bar looked up and smiled at him. “Welcome!” she called warmly. “Have a seat wherever you like, I’ll see to you in a moment!”

The man nodded his understanding and made his way over towards an empty table as close to the hearth as possible. He sat down upon the wooden chair next to the table in a way that seemed like he was afraid of damaging it and, once seated, seemed entirely unsure what to do with himself. Some of the people seated at the bar had turned to look when the barmaid greeted him and had now taken to watching the strange looking man. Most agreed that his manner seemed a bit odd. Regardless of his behavior however, the barmaid paid it no mind. They didn’t see many foreigners, the likes of which she had assumed him to be, but anyone were welcome here so long as they didn’t cause trouble.

The barmaid approached the man at his table a few moments later, still smiling. “My apologies for making you wait sir. What would you like? A drink, or perhaps some food?”

The man locked his gaze on her, and she suddenly felt as though something large and predatory had just taken notice of her. She became instantly aware of her surroundings and tried to calm herself a bit with the knowledge that the tavern had a number of people within it to stop this man if he tried to harm her. But he did not do so, and after a long moment of silence the man’s expression softened a bit and he spoke. “I would like water, fair maiden, and some small bit of your garden’s bounty.”

The barmaid tried to say something to acknowledge the man’s words but could not find her voice and simply nodded before making her way to the kitchens. The man went back to appreciating the tavern as he waited, noting that nearly every part of it appeared to have been hand made. He also noticed a painting hanging over the hearth, one that depicted a large dragon flying over a mountain range. He stared at the artwork for a while before approaching footsteps caught his attention.

A large, older man approached his table carrying a plate of fresh vegetables and a large cup. “My daughter said that this is for you sir.”

The blue eyed man nodded. “Many thanks sir, to you and your daughter.”

The older man huffed a bit. “Thanks are good and all, but I’d much rather you not unsettle my girl again.”

“I apologize sir. I meant no offense.”

The older man eyed the stranger for a moment before sighing. “Aye, I supposed you didn’t. Can’t say I blame her though. You’ve a look as though my hearth made a grave slight against your ancestors, and you mean to drive your head through it.”

“I was unaware that my appearance was so…dour.”

“That’d be a polite way a saying it. I don’t know from where you hail stranger or what has happened to you to give you such an expression but surely you can find some measure of peace here. Our town is smaller than most but we’ve a cheer that is rare to find nowadays.”

The man nodded. “That you do indeed. It has been a long while since I felt this much peace in a place.”

The old man grinned a bit. “Good. Hopefully your stay here will grant you some of that to carry with you once you continue.” He offered his hand to the man. “My name is David, and this is my tavern.”

The man looked at David’s hand for a moment before carefully taking it and shaking. “Greetings David. I thank you for your hospitality.”

Silence fell between them for a moment before David spoke again. “Usually polite once someone gives you their name to give your own in turn sir.”

The man bowed his head. “Apologies once again, Sir David, for I have no name that I can give.”

David brow shot up in surprise. “No? Surely your parents gave you a name of some sort.”

The man raised his head but did not meet David’s eye. “They did, but I left it behind long ago. I bear no name now, nor the expectation that came with it. I am No One, a Stranger. These are how people know me now.”

David couldn’t help but chuckle a little at that. “A Stranger is right, and only stranger by the moment. It doesn’t feel polite to do so, but since you’ve no proper name to offer I suppose Stranger will have to do. If that truly is to your liking and all?”

Stranger nodded. “Yes, that will suffice.”

“Right then. If you’ve need of anything else sir, you be sure to let my daughter, or I know.” David said, then turned and walked back to the bar, leaving Stranger alone to his modest meal.

Stranger sat in silence as he ate, his plate full of fresh picked garden vegetables and a few fruits. The travel had been long, and he had underestimated how famished he had become as a result of it. He was unsure of how much time passed as he ate, savoring every bite of his meal, before a new sound caught his attention. The door of the tavern flew open so suddenly and collided with the wall with such force that the resulting BANG silenced the whole tavern and startled more than a few folk. Five men entered the tavern, laughing raucously and practically yelling a conversation between them. They approached the bar as David came out of the area just behind it.

“Gods save us, what is all that ruckus?!” he yelled. He stopped as he caught sight of the men and crossed his arms. “Berholt, what is the meaning of this?” David asked through grit teeth.

One of the men, a younger fellow with black hair, raised his hands up in placation. “At ease, sir. My friends and I only meant to come in and have a few pints. No need to be so red.”

“Had you truly done damage to my tavern, Berholt, red would be all that you and your ‘friends’ could see. As for drinks, you’ll not get a drop until you pay for the others that you’ve been given!”

With a single swift motion, the young man, Berholt, produced a small black purse and tossed it to David, who caught it. He weights it in his hand for a moment before opening it, finding several gold coins inside. He looked up, the surprise easy to see on his face before his eyes narrowed. “How did you come by this much gold in such a short while boy?”

Berholt grasped his chest in feigned agony. “Oh Master David, you wound me so! Is it so difficult to imagine that I simply worked for my wages and gathered what was needed to repay you?”

David did not hesitate in giving his answer. “Yes, it is.”

Berholt laughed. “I suppose it is. Be that as it may, that is the truth of it. So,” Berholt slowly approached the bar until he was across it from David, “does that settle my debt to you, tavern master?”

David kept his narrowed gaze upon Berholt for several moments before answering. “It does, but mark my words boy, if I discover that you got this coin by any other way than the sweat of your brow, I’ll see to it that the guards have you in irons before days end. Your mother is a good woman and deserves a son that works hard to take care of her, not a lay-about good for nothing drinking himself silly and making a fool of himself to every young woman in town.”

David leaned over the bar a bit so that he and Berholt were eye to eye. “You and your ‘friends’ get one round, nothing more. And you pay now, not later. If you can muster up that much coin in such a short amount of time, then that shouldn’t be an issue. Do we have an understanding?”

Berholt’s demeanor seemed to harden a bit but none the less he still wore a small smile. “I understand completely sir.”

“Good. Then have your drinks and be off with you.”

David walked away, back toward the door leading to the rear of the bar, stopping for just a moment to say something to his daughter, before heading through. As soon as Berholt was sure that David was out of earshot he loudly called. “Right then. Aveline, I’d like a round of ale for myself and my friends here!”

The barmaid flinched harshly. “You’ve no need to yell Berholt, I can hear you. I’ll need the c-coin first though…”

Berholt laughed. “Right, right.” He dug into the pockets of his breeches and produced two gold coins. “This should be enough, right?”

Aveline carefully took the coins and looked them over. Berholt shook his head. “Really Aveline, if I could create fake coins do you think I’d still be working in those blasted mines? They’re as genuine as the rest I gave your father.” He leaned on the bar, giving Aveline a knowing grin. “As genuine as that smile that you have when you think no one can see.”

Aveline’s face flushed red with that remark, and she quickly followed her father’s path to the area behind the bar. As she went, Berholt began to laugh loudly and was soon joined by the other men with him.

“You told it true Berholt, that one turned the same shade as ‘mato!” one of the men rasped, then elbowed one of the others. “D’You see ‘er?”

Another of the men, a thin fellow with a shaved head, nodded. “Aye, I did.” He lowered his voice so that he believed only Berholt, and the others could hear him. “Perhaps she’d do better after a ‘body takes her to bed.”

They all howled with laughter at that, causing several people to move from the area in front of the bar to the dinning area where Stranger sat. Once they settled down, Berholt leaned in and added with a wicked smile, “If I’ve anything to say about it, that’ll be me.”

“You’ve your work cut out for you on that.” Replied another of the men, this one well dress with blonde hair pulled back in a thin ponytail. “She acts meek, but cornered animals are the dangerous ones. Best watch you don’t underestimate her.”

Berholt waved the blonde man off. “I’ve known Aveline all my life, she wouldn’t be a problem. It’s that brute father of hers I’m worried about.”

The blonde man nodded, his eyes scanning the room. “Indeed.”

A moment later Aveline came back out with five tankards on large tray. She walked over to the bar and began handing out drinks to Berholt and the others. When she reached the blonde man, she placed his tankard down and pulled her hand away only to have the man’s hand suddenly grab hers in such a quick movement that she was momentarily stunned. He took her hand in his, “Fair lady, such a terrible shame it is that one such as yourself should toil in a place such as this. Would be far better for others to be serving you, waiting upon you hand and foot like the royalty you are.” With that, he gently reached down and kissed the back of Aveline’s hand before letting go. Aveling looked horrified by what just happened, and quickly passed out the last two drinks before dashing back to the area behind the bar again.

The other three men laughed at the exchange, while Berholt looked annoyed. “What was that, Remfrey?”

The blonde man chuckled. “A test. If all is as you claim, Berholt, then you’d best catch her quickly, or I might just find myself with a naïve little barmaid in my bed tonight.”

Berholt didn’t say any more to that, but he didn’t take the comment well as he began grinding his teeth in frustration.

The men settled into their drinks after that and not a moment later a flash of light through the windows heralded the beginning of rain, the sudden downpour accompanied by the dull rumble of far off thunder. Several people, upon hearing the rain, quickly rose and hurried out of the tavern. By the end of the exodus, only Berholt, his retinue, and Stranger remained.

A moment later, David came back out from the back. The look of fury on his face was unmistakable as he walked up to the bar across from Berholt and slammed the coin purse down between them.

“You vile little snake.” David growled.

Berholt looked at David with feigned ignorance. “Why, Master David, whatever is the matter?”

David reached into the pocket of his apron and produced several gold coins, then cast them upon the bar. “Do you truly think me senseless boy? Do you take me for a fool?!” David pointed towards the coins accusingly. “Did you really think I wouldn’t see the blood?!”

Berholt carefully took one of the coins and held it up to examine it. Sure enough, across the profile of the king minted upon the coin were a smattering of dark red stains. Berholt sighed. “Oh no, sir David, I did not think you’d be fooled so easily. I knew you’d find the…’unfortunate’ result of my hard work in acquiring my coin.” David slid the coin into a pocket on his tunic. “In fact, I was so sure you’d look the coins over that my friend Remfrey here left those stains himself.”

David looked to the blonde man, then back to Berholt. “What? Take sense boy, why would he bleed on the coins?”

“I wouldn’t.” Remfrey answered coolly. David turned to look at him again. “Because that isn’t blood.”

A look of confusion crossed David’s face before he looked back to Berholt and noticed something all too late. Berholt, and the other men, all were wearing working gloves. David looked down at his own hands and noticed for the first time that they had small red splotches on them. Then his vision started to shimmer, and he reeled back into the counter as a wave a nausea overwhelmed him.

Berholt and the others stood from the bar. “Finally.” said Remfrey. “Nathaneal, watch the door. No one comes in.” Nathaneal, a squat broadly built man grunted an affirmative and went to the door. “Lewis, head to the back and grab the girl. Can’t have her running off to warn anyone.”

Lewis laughed “Aye Cap’n!” he said, then rushed through the door behind the bar.

Remfrey turned to the bald man at last. “Redman, tend to the other patron. The fellow hasn’t moved from his table yet- see to it that he remains there.”

Redman produced a wicked looking curved dagger with a flourish. “Aye, I’ll make sure he stays put.”

Remfrey and Berholt approached David as Redman went to Stranger. The thin man loomed over the seated stranger and smiled cruelly. “Make sure you don’t move now, else I’ll have to carve a piece of that face of yours off.” Redman raised his knife to Stranger’s cheek so he could see it to emphasize his point. Stranger made no motion to move or run and said nothing. Redman looked a little disappointed at that but called over to Remfrey. “Our friend here ain’t going nowhere ‘Frey.”

“Good” came the reply. “Now then, to business.”

Berholt approached David, who was now bracing himself against the counter to stay standing. He looked up as Berholt stood before him. The younger man looked the tavern owner over for a moment before rearing his fist back and striking David across the face. Any other time, the force would do little other than anger him, but right now it sent the large man to the ground. Berholt held his hand and hissed in pain. Redman laughed.

“If you’d hit him like Nathaneal had taugh ‘ya that wouldn’t have hurt!”

“Maybe, but I’ve got plenty of time to get it right.” Berholt growled. He stood over David and spat. “That’s for all the times you called me ‘boy’, you self-righteous bastard. You aren’t my father, and if you were I’d throw myself into the nearest lake and take a deep breath.”

David tried in vain to raise himself up. “Good, ‘cuz if you’re my son I’d have throttled you long ago. Maybe then you wouldn’t be such a shite man.” He huffed.

Berholt sneered and kicked David in the ribs, causing the old man to yell in pain from the blow.

“Enough Berholt. We’re not here to kill him.” Remfrey said. Berholt took a few steps back away and Remfrey approached David, settling into a squat so as to better communicate with the man. “You are most likely wondering why we went to all this trouble, Sir David.”

“Actually, at present I’m thinking of the way I want to tie the knot of the rope I’m going to use to hang you bastards.”

Remfrey laughed. “You wouldn’t be the first one. Nor will you be the last. But Berholt here, he is a new initiate in our ‘organization’ and part of the condition of his joining is that he find us a suitable mark to add to our list of businesses. Now, you’ve a fairly modest little place here, and with the way trade is going you are likely only going to see more coin. So, here is my proposal for you.”

Remfrey took a small glass vial out of the pocket of his cloak. “This is the antidote to the poison I coated the coins in. You agree to pay us regularly and let us run goods through here, and it’s yours.”

“And if I don’t?” David asked.

“Then you die, we take what valuables can be salvaged from the place and burn it to the ground.”

“People saw you in here. They’d know!”

“What would they know? That we were here before the place burned? They may have their suspicions but trust me when I say that they would never be able to prove it.” Remfrey grinned. “You think you’re the first man I’ve done this to? Hardley. Not only will I get away with it, but I’ll be sitting pretty on your coin for a long time before I need to dirty my hands like this again.”

David regarded Remfrey and Berholt for a while but before anything more could be said, the door leading to the back area burst open. From it emerged Lewis, carrying a bound and gagged Aveline. “Sorry for the delay Cap’n. Feisty one she is, took me a bit to reel ‘er in!”

David tried to yell something but began coughing violently instead.

Remfrey shook his head. “That’s only going to get worse. You’d best make up your mind.”

David spat a gob of blood out onto the tavern floor. “Fine, do whatever you want! Just leave my daughter out of this!”

“Sorry tavern master, I’m afraid that’s not part of the deal.”

David went pale. “What?”

“Well, you see, after I give you this antidote, what’s to stop you from just arming up and trying to hunt us down? Or going to the guard and reporting us?” Remfrey stood and make his way over to Aveline, taking her face in his hand and forcing her to look at her father. “No, I’m giving your girl to Berholt here as a trophy bride.”

David glared over at Berholt with such hatred that it alone should have been enough to kill the young man on the spot.

“As long as you cooperate and give us what we want, she’ll live a happy life raising Berholt’s children.” Remfrey looked to Aveline now, glaring straight into her fearful eyes. “And as long as you do as you’re told and be a good little girl, Papa will continue to dwell amongst the living.”

Aveline began to sob, and David began to curse Remfrey and Berholt in every way that he knew how. Remfrey simply shook his head. “Berholt, he’s being too loud. Deal with him please.”

A look of sick pleasure creeped across Berholt’s face as he approached David again. The old man braced himself for pain while Aveline cried and tried desperately to yell past the cloth silencing her.

“Ack! Y-You bastard! Lemme go!”

All that could turned to look toward the right side of the tavern to find that Stranger had risen from his chair and was now holding Redman’s arm in a way that had driven the man to his knees. Remfrey, Berholt, and the others looked between one another then to Stranger.

Remfrey sighed. “I thought you had him Redman.” He said, annoyed.

“I-I did boss! I swear I did! But one second, he was sittin’ there then- “

“No excuses Redman. Your cut’s getting docked for this.” Remfrey slipped his pleasant smile back on. “Sir, it seems you got one over on my man there. Impressive, I have to say. Redman is a tough customer on a good day, so to have him at your mercy like that is no mean feat.”

Remfrey waited to see if the Stranger would say anything, but when he said nothing, he continued. “Not sure what your plan is though. Surely you realize that you can’t fight your way out past all five of us?”

The stranger said nothing. Remfrey began to find the man’s unflinching stare unsettling however, and every moment that passed he could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

“Maybe you’ve decided to try your luck though?” Remfrey chuckled. “That’d be a waste sir. Of your life and our time. I have a better idea. You join us, and help me get this situation under control and I’ll give you Redman’s cut of the profits”

“WHAT!?”

“It’s your fault, now shut up!” Remfrey hissed. He promptly went back to smiling, addressing the Stranger again. “So, what do you say?”

Stranger looked from Remfrey over to Berholt, then to Lewis holding Aveline, to Nathaneal, then finally on David who looked worse by the second.

Finally, the Stranger spoke. “I can promise that I will be as gentle as I can. But I cannot promise you will survive.” A heartbeat later, SNAP, and Redman screamed. Remfrey and Berholt both went pale as Redman doubled over, his arm angled in the wrong direction. Nathaneal pulled a short sword from a sheath on his hip and charged. Lewis turned to Berholt. “’Ere! Take the girl!”

Berholt quickly took Aveline and ran through the door leading to the back. “No, ya blighted idiot! There isn’t-bah!” Lewis yelled, throwing his hands up before pulled two daggers from his belt and rushing to help Nathaneal.

The two men closed the gap between themselves and Stranger quickly, with Nathaneal swinging high and Lewis going low. Despite their coordinated effort however, Stranger was ready. As Nathaneal came down, Stranger blocked him. As Lewis closed in for what seemed like a sure hit, Stranger moved a chair between them with his foot, causing Lewis to embed his blades into the wood. Stranger then kicked the chair up, the seat of it colliding squarely with Lewis’ face and sending the man flying backward a few feet. Nathaneal, meanwhile had decided to use his close proximity to the Stranger to try and grab him. He swung around behind and tried to press his blade to the Stranger’s throat, only to hear his blade collide with another.

The Stranger brought up Redman’s curved dagger just in time to catch Nathaneal’s sword and, while the man was distracted, grabbed his arm and flipped the large man over his shoulder and brought him down upon the table some feet in front of them. Before Nathaneal could recover, the Stranger made his way over to him and kicked his sword away, sending it across the room and out of reach. As an extra measure, Stranger reached out and grabbed Nathaneal firmly by his shoulder. Remfrey watched as Nathaneal’s entire body went rigid then fell to the ground, unconscious or perhaps even dead. Lewis was currently on the floor, clutching his bloodied face and trying desperately to pick his teeth up off the tavern floor.

The Stranger then turned his attention to Remfrey, who had but given up the suave businessman act. He now stood over David, a small crossbow in hand aimed at the dying tavern master’s head. “You take one step, and this old man dies!” Remfrey snarled.

The Stranger hesitated for a moment and Remfrey found his pluck again. “Good,” he said “I’m glad you finally understand the situation. Now, here is what is going to happen. I’m going to walk out of here and you aren’t going to follow me, you understand?! Because if you do,” Remfrey placed the vial of antidote on the bar. “he’ll die before you ever catch me.”

The Stranger stayed still as Remfrey came out from around the bar, careful to keep his crossbow trained on David the entire time until he finally reached the door. He quickly threw it open and fled into the storm outside and the as he vanished into the rain, the Stranger made his was over to David. He quickly grabbed the vial on the bar and uncorked it. He the turned David over and held his head up.

“Drink quickly friend,” said Stranger, as he poured the brew into David’s mouth.

The tavern master did as instructed and drank. Once the vial was empty, he gasped out. “Aveline…”

The Stranger nodded and gently placed David’s head down and gave chase. The door behind the bar led to a kitchen and food storage area, at the far end of which was a set of stairs going up to a second floor. The Stranger could hear a voice yelling from up there and run up as fast as he could. Once up, he found himself at the end of a hall. At the far end of the hall was a wide open door leading into a bedchamber. Standing in it, calling out a window, was Berholt.

“REMFREY, YOU BASTARD!” he screamed over the pouring rain. “DON’T LEAVE ME HERE!”

The Stranger looked down at Berholt’s feet and saw Aveline, unconscious and bleeding from a wound on her head. Berholt stopped his screaming and turned to look down the hall and saw the Stranger. Berholt reached to his side and pulled a small crossbow, similar to Remfrey’s, and aimed at Aveline. For but a moment, the Stranger thought that perhaps Berholt meant to bargain for his escape. But no, the Stranger realized a moment later that Berholt had gone far beyond reason and simply saw now no way out. And if he couldn’t win, then no one could.

Berholt aimed his weapon squarely at Aveline’s head and pulled the trigger. Or rather, tried to. One moment, he’d felt manic energy forcing him onward. Now, he felt cold. He could no longer summon the strength to fire his weapon. In fact, the crossbow fell out of his hands entirely as his strength failed him. He turned to look back down the hall, confused, only to find that the Stranger was standing directly in front of him. And even more alarming, was the Stranger’s arm buried to the elbow in his chest.

Berholt felt like he should be shocked, or horrified, by the sight in front of him. But he wasn’t. Instead, tears in his eyes, he whimpered. “Momma?”

Berholt went limp and fell into the Stranger’s embrace, and everything went dark.

Aveline would awaken some time later, the wound on her head miraculously healed. She sat straight up, then fell back upon her bed as dizziness overtook her.

‘Wait, my bed?’

Avaline looked around and found her father sitting nearby. He came to her side at once and held her as she wept. She had been so terrified, not just for herself, but for her father. The last she had seen he was dying on the floor; now here he was, a few shades paler than before but alive. After a few moments, she spoke. “What happened, Papa? Where are those men?”

David’s expression turned stern. “The blonde one got away.”

Aveline felt sick as her father said those words. “The coward threatened me with a bolt and the Stranger let him go to save me. The other three men though, the Stranger made short work of them. Never seen anyone move that fast in my life.”

“What about Berholt?” Aveline asked.

David tried to speak but stopped. He looked away from his daughter and she suddenly felt cold. “Father? What happened to Berholt?”

David sighed and looked Aveline in the eye. “He tried to run. When the Stranger cornered him, Berholt made to try and kill you. The Stranger managed to stop him, but the only way he could was…”

David stopped for a moment, sighed and said simply “He’s gone Aveline.”

Aveline went numb. Memories of Berholt flashed before her eyes. They’d known each other since they were children. Berholt used to be a bright boy, full of happiness and hope. But when his father passed away, it had suddenly fallen on him to take care of himself and his mother, who was almost always infirm. Berholt was forced to grow up, far too quickly. The whole experience had made him bitter, changed him. Aveline watched it happen and tried to help him where she could. After all, they were friends, weren’t they?

She remembered the look on Berholt’s face as he was about to hurt her father, that cruel look of satisfaction. She wept, for herself, for her father, for Berholt’s mother, and most of all for the boy Berholt had once been.

Outside the door, out of sight, stood the Stranger. He had several hours ago washed away the blood that had stained his arm- but he could never wash the stain from his soul. He had been afraid that something like this might happen if he intervened, but if he had not, then there could have been two innocent people dead. Or worse. But the justification didn’t make it better. Berholt had been a young man. And now he was gone.

The Stranger made his way down to the tavern area. He appeared from the door leading into the bar area. Guards had come some time ago and removed the three men that had accompanied Remfrey and Berholt, all of the bound for prison. The guards had also taken Berholt’s body to be given his final rites and a burial. In the time that David had been watching and waiting for Aveline to wake, the Stranger had gone around and mended anything broken or sullied with his magic. He was grateful for the opportunity to use it to fix things, rather than-

In a flash, the Stranger is back in the hallway. Berholt is bearing down on Aveline with his crossbow, ready to shoot and kill her. No mortal could close the distance fast enough to save her.

The Stranger feels the energy in his muscles, behind his eyes, in the air. He exhales and moves, arm extended like a javelin. In the space of half a heartbeat the Stranger runs Berholt through with his bare hand, as a bolt of lightning illuminates the world outside. Thunder shakes the tavern as Berholt drops his weapon. He looks up and the Stranger- no, he looks through him, beyond him- and cries.

‘Momma?’

The Stranger jerks violently as he comes back to his senses. His breathing is labored and his hands tremble violently. A cold chill has settled into his bones. It’s always like this. Every time he simply wishes to do good, to help others, he loses control.

The Stranger clenches his hands into fists and steady his breathing. He calmly makes his way to the door, opening it wide. The rain has slowed a bit.

“Not even a goodbye?”

The Stranger doesn’t turn around. He knows the look on his face would betray his feelings. “Yes. I’ve caused enough chaos here. Best if I move onward.”

David takes a step forward. “You didn’t cause any chaos, those snakes did. As for…” David stops for a second, then continues. “What happened to Berholt wasn’t you fault. The kid had a hard life. And…I tried to be tough with the boy hoping that might help him to straighten himself out. His mother is a good woman, and his father was practically a brother to me.”

David’s shoulder’s slumped and he cast his gaze to the ground. “The things I said to the boy before…I’ll never get to take any of that back.” He looked back up to the Stranger. “You did what had to be done to save my Aveline. I’m grateful for that, beyond words I am. And you saved my life too. Near as I’m concerned, you’re a hero.”

“That I am not. Death and destruction follow in my wake. And because of that, I cannot remain here.”

David sighed. “I don’t suppose anything I say can change your mind. A man has to walk the road laid out in front of him. If you feel like you have to leave, then go. But know this before you do: regardless of how you see yourself, you ARE a hero, to me and my daughter, and you are always welcome here, if you ever decide to return.”

The Stranger hung his head, ashamed that he could never live up to those words.

“I just wish that I had a proper name to thank you with.” David said.

The Stranger straightened himself up and turned to look at David. The tavern master was shocked to see that the Stranger was red eyed with unshed tears, as the rain outside began to pour once again. “There is a moniker I’ve been known by from time to time.”

“What is it?”

The Stranger hesitated for a moment, then spoke as the world behind him was illuminated in a bright flash of lightning. David’s eyes went wide, then seconds later the rumble of thunder echoed out. David smiled despite himself. “That’s a strange name, though I suppose I see how you earned it.”

The Stranger turned back around and crossed the threshold of the tavern, making his way into the pouring rain. David followed as far as the door, then watched as the Stranger wandered further into the storm. Just before David lost sight of him, Aveline came over to the door and stood beside him. She slid around to his front, leaning out the doorway as the rain fell in sheets. She took a deep breath and cried out into the storm.

“Thank you-!”

Another flash of Lightning and boom of thunder drowned out the rest of Aveline’s call. As the flash cleared and the rumble echoed away, the Stranger had disappeared.