Recent content by Leoric Stormcrowned

Leoric held her steady as she slid down, arm firm around her waist until her feet found solid ground. She felt light as air in his grip, trembling from the ride and pain. He didn’t rush her when she clung a second longer. When she eased back, cheeks flushed, he met her eyes quietly. "You’re...

Alliria outskirts Leoric guided Astraeus to a gentle halt beside the riverbank, the big Friesian’s sides heaving but steady. He let the reins fall loose across the stallion’s neck and sat motionless for a moment, listening to the water murmur over stones and the distant call of a hawk...

Leoric brought the big Friesian around, iron-shod hooves striking sparks from the cobbles. Chaos had erupted around them. Shouts and bodies diving aside. The gates ahead were already moving. Aetheris reared, forelegs flashing, and Althea’s cry cut through the din. Leoric saw her slip, saw...

Leoric caught the crooked smirk and felt the corner of his own mouth tug upward despite everything. It was a brief, answering flicker that vanished as quickly as it came. "Yeah well, it was still an idea." The last few years of his life had been a litany of mistakes. This was the first time...

"Oh...f" Old habits kept him from swearing at her under his breath. He hadn't picked him his hammer to curry favour with the thief, but he thought there might have been a touch of grace given that she still had a head because of him. “You’re welcome,” he murmured. He grunted in frustration...

Leoric followed her gaze to the two horses, taking in the massive black Friesian and the slightly less daunting grey courser. Fine animals, far finer than anything he had expected to find in a merchant’s stable. Gold was perhaps the important part of the name. Her flat admission drew his eyes...

Leoric let her haul him into the alley without resistance, her grip surprisingly strong on his wrist despite the blood and stitches. He had thought to make some foolish last stand and instead was dragged in her wake. They soon emerged into sunlight and order. It was far removed from the busy...

Leoric pounded after her, boots slamming wet cobblestones. His coat flared behind him like a banner. They would have found changes of clothes and planned out their escape. He hadn't expected Gav to get moving at first light. Every stride jarred his tired frame, but adrenaline and the old...

"Oh dear," went Leoric. "I'm better than Gav's common thugs but I can't fight ten." It was an obvious thing to say and probably unnecessary. He wouldn't use a sword since he had broken his oaths. The hammer had a narrow head on one side and a claw on the other. It was a true warhammer for...

Leoric came awake instantly at the whisper of his name, no groggy transition, just eyes snapping open and body tensing beneath the blanket. Years of sleeping light in hostile places had burned that reflex into him. His hand slapped down onto the handle of the hammer. He sat up fast, blanket...

Leoric watched her rise, noting the careful way she moved. When she told him to get in the boat, he , surprise flickering across tired eyes. Then he gave a small nod, no argument left in him. “Aye,” he murmured. No one had told him to get into a boat whilst it was in the middle of an old...

Leoric had not moved from the stool all night. The warhammer lay across his knees. His greatcoat was still drying, his hair loose and tangled from the rain, eyes shadowed with fatigue. “Morning,” he said. At her words he gave a small, tired shake of his head. "I’ve gone longer without,” he...

Leoric caught the pillow and blanket with a quiet nod of thanks. He spread the blanket over his knees as he settled onto the stool near the door. He set his warhammer across his lap. Althea’s breathing evened out almost at once. She was exhausted. This was the kind of sleep that came only...

Leoric remained on his knees a moment longer, head still lowered. The quiet thank you caught him off guard; he had not expected it. He looked up only when she turned, careful to keep his gaze on her face. The expression there made something in his chest tighten. Broken. Why had he even...

He murmured a quiet “Sorry” under his breath and paused until her breathing evened again. Only when the last stitch was tied and the wounds bound with clean cloth did he sit back on his heels. He set the bloodied tools aside, wiped his right hand on the towel, and spoke softly to the...