Recent content by Leoric Stormcrowned

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...

It was bloody work. Nothing had cut deep but the glass was keeping each wound open. He changed tactic. Starting from the top he gave each cut a sterilising wipe and stitched. He worked exceptionally neat lines. He was steadier working with wounds than dealing with almost seeing a...

"Right," he confirmed as he turned about. “Only the glass,” he said quietly. “Nothing else. You have my word. " He rose slowly from the stool, movements deliberate so she could track him without turning. Oh goodness There was still a lot of skin on show. He might have fallen, but he had...

Leoric kept his gaze locked on the knot in the wood, shoulders still, giving her the space she demanded. The sounds behind him made his jaw tighten, but he did not turn. “Not a cult,” he said. “A knightly order." He paused, fingers curling slowly in the towel. The words tasted foul. “I was...