It was late afternoon, and the thunderstorm had been raging for at least an hour or two. Bramm had finished all the work he needed to do earlier in the day and decided to spend some time leisurely.

He sat in his chair on the porch, humming one of his favourite sailor hymns.

His cheery and peaceful mood came to an end when he saw a figure striding towards him from the other cabins. Lighting flashed in the sky, illuminating the oncoming figure.

’Looks like he finished his work,’ Bramm nodded, recognising the figure as Keren.

Staring, he began to frown. The figure seemed unsteady, swaying slightly from time to time. With a swift jump, he rushed towards Keren, realising he must have been wounded for him to move like that.

"What’s wrong, lad?" Bramm grabbed Keren’s arm, threw it over his shoulder, and rushed towards the cabin. All Keren could do was grunt and groan in response.

Making sure Keren had been laid down properly on the bed in the cabin. Bramm took a step back and gave him a once-over.

Bloodied, makeshift band-aids were wrapped all around his waist. With one or two on the leg and arm. The worst, however, was the one on his side. The bandaid seemed to be barely containing the blood.

Ocen’s grave! Hold on a little longer, I’ll patch ya up swiftly." With a flurry of quick movements, he grabbed all the necessary supplies he had on hand and removed the bandages from Keren.

"Damn lad, what did ya fight to get this torn up?" he asked as he cauterised the wound on the man’s side.

"A bloody mountain slope... gah! A pain-filled and hoarse cry echoed.

"Hush now, the wounds will only open further if ya move too much. Rest for the night, and we will talk in the morning," he calmed the struggling Keren, who seemed to be on his last breath.

The man’s face was pale, and from what the bandages suggested, he had lost a lot of blood. ’It really should be time that I find a healer. We can’t go living like this for too long’ he mumbled softly as his gaze drifted to the last bit of supplies he had left over.

Within moments, Bramm could hear the slight snore of Keren as the man passed out on the bed. ’What an amusing young man,’ he chuckled softly and took his seat on the porch once more.

***

The sun had risen above the midday, and its rays shone across the Black Spine forest, illuminating the canopy of leaves and branches.

The clatter of wheels and carts, the hushed voices of men echoed softly in the forest.

A group of men and a few carts of wagons were slowly walking through the forest, making noise as they went.

"Mornell, you should keep your men quiet... all this noise is bound to attract a group of beasts." One of the men who led the group glanced over his shoulder as he spoke.

The man named Mornell was quite bulky, with muscles that fit his body in a powerful showing. He was dressed in a rather simple-looking tunic with a pelt of wool draped over his shoulders.

With a sigh, the man turned to once more reprimand the group behind them...

"They really are a bunch of loudmouths..." Telarin sighed as he glanced at the man scolding the others, like a father scolding children. The others quieted down eventually, and the group resumed in peace.

Mornell returned and sighed heavily, "You’ll have to excuse them. It’s been months since their last job and they are in desperate need of some payment. Excitement is to be expected." he spoke, clearly frustrated himself.

Resven nodded in response, "Don’t worry, we are almost there, then it will be safer. We’re lucky we didn’t run into a few beasts though," he gazed around vigilantly.

The group had set out early in the morning, before the sun had even risen, and decided to venture into the forest. And with the three men was a group of men from the builders’ guild. After their visit to the Iron Hoof Stable, where they were able to procure a good-sized Garron, Resven and Telarin went to the builders’ guild.

It took a lot of haggling and a lot of money, but they were eventually able to persuade a few desperate men and a rather well-known builder to venture into the forest with them to complete what Bramm had intended for them to build.

True to his words, minutes after he said them, the group crested the last hill and turned the last corner that led straight towards a clearing with a few structures around. A cabin and a half closer to them, with a campfire area, a large fence standing between the trees, and the clearing running along the whole area.

And finally, clearly a larger cabin, towards the end of the clearing.

"We welcome you to House Osric. It may be humble, but it is home. You should do well to keep that in mind," Resven turned and flashed Mornell a smile.

Mornell curiously gazed around and nodded lightly.

"Mornell, come with me. We’ll go see the Lord. Mestin, please take care of the group and the new garron. We’ll be back shortly, now come along." Turning towards the cabin, he gestured for Mornell to follow closely.

Mornell walked steadily; he had known from the beginning he would meet a Lord, and as such, he was prepared to meet him. He was not, however, prepared to see the man seated on the porch, huffing a putty relaxingly.

"By the Abyss... Bramm?" he stood wide-eyed, and surprise overtook his expression.

Resven halted in his steps, his eyes narrowing upon the figure, and he was about to speak as he turned his whole body to face the man beside him.

"Haha! Thank Ocen... Mornell ya, bloody bastard! I never thought I would lay my eyes on you again!" a loud, resounding voice echoed cheerfully across the area.