Wenceslas, the Hawk Chapter II

[OsmanEmpire 90]

WENCESLAS, THE HAWK 

 

This story is a literary work of the Reinmarian culture. A fairytale told to children to teach them moral lessons and give them a bigger consciousness on Reinmarian culture. Wenceslas, the Hawk is a modernized version of a former tale spread from mouth to mouth. 

 

Chapter II. 

 

O’ had the days been short and the nights long. Winter had reached the land at last. Only the parents of Wenceslas sent their weeping into the cold night. The town had already forgotten of the miller boy’s poor fate. 

 

Wenceslas the exiled now walked aimlessly along the snowy paths.  Not even a coat to his name. But then on the Gorschfeld fork faraway from Karnitz did the boy greet three leather cladded men. 

“Where ya off to boy?” the middle man laughed with his menacing sword.

“Lost on da’ roads?” the man on the left sneered. 

Wenceslas wavered in fear “I have nothing to my name! I’m but a miller! Or I used to be..”
“Where are you from boy?” the man on the right stepped forward with arms crossed 
“Karnitz.” Wenceslas lowered his head “I was exiled for being smitten over the wrong lass.”

 

“A tale as old as time.” laughed the men “seems like the Lord done ya dirty as well. Are ya any good with a blade boy?” 

“Nay. I’m but a miller.”  Wenceslas winced. 
“Yeah yeah you told us so.” the men looked at each other “we can teach you. But you musn’t be shy about traveling these roads.”

 

And so the young Wenceslas was received by a group of bandits sharing a similar tragic fate.

They gathered in the camp and Wenceslas was given a coat and a loaf of bread. They spoke of their stories and bonded over the challenges they faced. 

 

The day after Wenceslas was nourished and renewed. Patrolling the roads around the farms between Gorschfeld and Karnitz with his new companions.

The first robbery he underwent great doubt. The second but a mere afterthought. The third he became comfortable with sin.

 

The band became bolder. Robbing a Karnitzian merchant and recruiting his indebted rider. Hearing of this event Lord Erich of Karnitz became outraged. 

“Those barbarians cost us hundreds of Minas! A promise to Gorschfeld broken!” Erich slammed his fist on the table. “Ladislaus. Bring me their heads. I will apoligize to Lord Gorschfeld personally.” 

And so a meeting would occur at dusk. Two lords of different temper beneath the apple tree of the tavern. The bandits and Wenceslas had yet to face a serious contender. At dawn, they will. 

 

And so Lord Gorschfeld sent a carriage of hay to Karnitz without entourage. Wenceslas and his bandit compatriots eyed it from the covers of some roadside bushels.

"That's enough for a village!."  spoke Manfried the bandit leader "Wenceslas, can ya halt the rider?" 

Wenceslas agreed and exited the bushels. Walking straight onto the road before the carriage. 

 

Unbeknownst to Wenceslas and his bandit compatriots a small group of guards waited beneath the hay.

Once Wenceslas hailed the carriage to a halt his compatriots joined him. 

Only then did the guards reveal themselves. Wenceslas had fallen for a trap. 

 

[GoodGuyMatt 7113]

Erich Barclay smiles profoundly as he reads through the piece of Reinmaren literature, wondering why he hasn't seen this particular piece before, though happy he now did. The Baron then goes around Reinmar with the piece of work to show to his younger Barclay kin.