http://slow.writerscafe.org/walshmt84 The original writings of author Matthew Walsh en-us Copyright 2026 WritersCafe.org 1776011640 WritersCafe.org RSS Generator 15 There was a fine mist coming down, enoughto make the roads wet but not enough to be called rain.  A tall, hooded figure slipped through thestreets in a less reputable part of town. Stepping into a disheveled inn he found himself in a room full ofdangerous looking characters.  .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1522419/ Erik led his men south and east toCounty Ander.  He pushed them to reach itquickly in case the intelligence was correct. They marched hard for five days to reach the small, poor county.  When they arrived they found the villagesunspoiled and the holdfast intact.  LordAn.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1522418/ Erik’s unit was a mixed unit.  Mostly men-at-arms, a few archers, and someheavy cavalry.  The men-at-arms and thearchers were present at the Lord Commander’s fortress, while the cavalry unitwas waiting for them at the capital.  Erikwould take command of them when h.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1522416/ The Lord Commander held a fortressthat was almost a castle all his own.  Thekeep was not much more than a tower with a small yard, but it had a solidmortared wall.  It had been one of thefirst constructions when Keldred was first formed.  It took Erik and his party three days .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1522414/ Travelling north seems much liketravelling any other direction at first. After the first three days it was apparent they were not travelling in awell-traveled direction.  First othertravelers thinned and eventually disappeared altogether.  Then the roads changed from paved sto.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1522410/ The air stank of human waste, mold,and decay.  It was a familiar smell,burning through Erik’s nostrils and bringing up old memories of his last nightspent in prison.  His cell was small,damp, and cold, but at least he had a window this time.  Despite the lack of a view i.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1522408/ Erik sat dozing in a chair hepropped against the door to their room.  Kierawas asleep on the straw mattress that made the bed.  Erik had picked the only room without windowsand put his chair against the door so that no one could sneak in on them, butalso to prevent Kiera from tryin.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1522407/ There was aformal ceremony for Erik to accept the title and position as personal guard ofher highness, Lady Kiera, the princess of Keldred.  Erik followed the instructions he had beengiven and carried out the motions of the ceremony and said the words of thevow, swearing his life and se.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1232268/ Erik stood over the body in thesand.  Blood glistened off of his sword,the slick red contrasting the silver of the steel.  Around him the crowd was cheering and howling.  Erik felt a rush surging through his chestand arms.  His hands were shaking and hecould not seem to d.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1179115/ The castle dungeons were cold,damp, and dark.  Everything smelled ofmold, mildew, and decay.  Erik wascertain more than one person had died in them. He was dragged down endless flights of steps and tossed into a cell withhalf a dozen men twice his size and one man a foot sho.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1133831/ Barastan had always been a peacefulvillage.  It was small, only a few shops inthe market with homes and a small inn that was almost always empty.  The village was surrounded by a dozen smallfarms that fed the village.  There wasnot a lot of excess in Barastan.  Eventhe .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1126449/ Erik faced three more combatantsthe following day, a knight he noted was one of Sir Haile’s associates from theprevious evening, one fat man with a big war hammer, and an older soldier whowore no armor and moved like a serpent.  Eachopponent was more challenging than the last but .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1121715/ The first time Erik had walked intothe great hall for the banquet he had to stop and catch his breath.  The vaulted ceilings were frescoed withmurals creating a series of great stories that interwove and blended tellingthe history of Keldred and how the Greymist's had forged this land abo.. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1112866/ Thesound of pickaxes rang through the air in a cacophony of percussion.The air reeked of animal and human filth. Deep furrows in the muddytrack pulled on the wheels of the wagon giving the driver sometrouble as the team of mules pulled their burden over the hill. Theback of the wagon was .. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1109967/ When Erik, a mercenary, takes a job as a body guard for the princess he finds himself drawn into the middle of a plot to overturn Keldred’s monarchy. http://slow.writerscafe.org/writing/walshmt84/1109882/