“Its what I told King Sargus I would do,” Nash said to himself as he pointed his horse west. “After so many kills, what’s one more,” he justified.
They really did get easier. Each time he killed, he was less and less remorseful. Nash wondered what that said about his character as he plodded along.
Drenad was a colorful place. Nash had never been here before, but it reminded him of some of the seaside villages he had seen before. Homes were stained and painted all kinds of bright colors throughout.
There was a choice of inns too! “Choices, choices,” Nash said to himself. “The Red Dragon Inn or The Drunken Munchkin Inn,” Nash contemplated each. Two wrestling midgets burst through the door of one of the inns, rolled down the stairs, and began throwing fists at each other, which made Nash laugh. “The Drunken Munchkin it is,” he said as he moved his horse around the two fighters to the stable.
Tonight, he planned on having a good time, even if he had to kill someone, which he did.
He secured his horse a place for the night at the stable and meandered into the Inn. The two men that were fighting were nowhere to be seen outside. Nash was a bit surprised to see them sitting at a table inside, sharing a pitcher of brew and laughing heartily. He had not noticed before, but they were clearly twins.
“I’ll need a room to pass out in tonight,” Nash said to the barkeep. “Nothing fancy.”
The barkeep grabbed a key from the pegboard. “Two silvers for the room and one silver for the key. Return the key you get your silver back,” he said.
“Whew!” Nash exclaimed. “I bet you get most of your keys back!”
“You would be surprised at how many are not returned. It’s a real pain to replace them,” he lamented.
“I’ll be back for my silver,” Nash stated.
The barkeep laughed, “We’ll see. Anything to drink?”
“I’ll take two pitchers of what those two are drinking and a stein,” Nash said.
The barkeep frowned. “Don’t get the owner’s sons too drunk,” he pleaded.
Nash laughed and took his order with him. He sat at the table and set the two pitchers down. One in front of himself, and one in front of the two smaller men. They looked at him funny.
“Tell me, gentlemen, what were you fighting about earlier?” Nash asked.
“He called me short-sighted,” one of the two said.
“And he called me short-tempered,” the other said.
Nash wasn’t sure if he should laugh or not, “So how did the fight end?”
“It was clear that we were both right,” they agreed in unison with a laugh and took a swig of their drink.
A new voice joined the conversation from behind Nash. A woman asked, “Who’s your friend, boys?”
The two men were not pleased to see the woman. “We have not traded names yet, but he’s drinking with us tonight, Darleen.”
“Don’t hog this tall drink of water to yourselves,” another woman said and cozied up to Nash. “I’m Deidra,” she whispered in Nash’s ear.
Both of the women were of the same stature as the two men at the table. “Are you four related?” Nash asked cautiously.
Deidra giggled. “We’re siblings, quadruplets, actually,” she said. “That’s Danny and David, our brothers.” The two men nodded to Nash.
“I’m Liam,” Nash lied and took a big swig of his drink. “Are we ready to party? What can I get you ladies to drink?”
“Yay!” Deidra screamed and clapped her hands. She stood on the chair and waved to the barmaid.
“Energetic one,” Nash said.
“That’s nothing,” Darleen said. “Wait till later when you have us alone,” she said with a sly smile.
“You’re such a slut, Darleen,” David said.
“I wish it was that easy for us to get laid,” Danny said. Danny and David suddenly slammed their mugs together and chugged the contents.
“Chug! Chug! Chug,” their sisters chanted while they drank.
Danny slammed his mug down on the table first and grinned at his brother. “You’re out of practice, brother!” he said.
“I’m just getting warmed up,” David responded and poured them both a full mug. He reached over and filled Nash’s mug too. “You ready for the next one?” he said with a wide grin on his face. The girl’s drinks had just arrived, and Nash paid the barmaid.
Nash grabbed his mug and got ready. The two girls started their chant, but as soon as the boys clinked their mugs, they were drinking too. Several other people in the room laughed and continued the chant of “Chug! Chug! Chug!”
Darleen and Deidra both slammed their mugs down first followed by a three-way tie between David and Danny and Nash.
“What the hell?” David exclaimed.
“It’s all about letting your throat relax,” Darleen said. Deidra leaned back and demonstrated by stroking her throat. “Then, the drink just slides down without choking you.”
“You’re such sluts,” David and Danny said simultaneously with a laugh.
Nash had the feeling this was going to be a night to remember for a few reasons. He grabbed a pitcher and poured drinks for all. “He’s a gamer, David,” Danny said.
“Is that true, Liam? Let’s see what he’s got, Danny,” David said, hefting his mug.
It was after the fifth, maybe the sixth round, Nash decided to take care of the middle, now oldest Prince. He was starting to feel a bit tipsy, which made it easier for him to justify the kill. Both of the women were disengaged from him at the moment, so the timing was perfect.
Everyone around Nash froze in place as he stumbled to his feet. “Maybe I should have gone earlier,” he said to himself and giggled. “Yep. Definitely,” he confirmed as he grabbed a table to not fall. The fresh, cool evening air seemed to help as he crossed the courtyard to the castle entrance.
For fun, Nash kicked one of the guards at the entrance in the nuts. He laughed hard and wished he could see what happens next when the clock begins to turn again. Nash began his search of the castle. The living quarters of the Royal Family were easy to find, and he began there.
The queen was enjoying the warmth of a fireplace in one of the living rooms. She was surrounded by maidens who were frozen mid-laugh. They appeared to be playing some kind of board game together. Nash found the youngest Prince two rooms away, sleeping soundly. In the next room, he found the Prince he sought.
Nash laughed hysterically at his timing. The prince was using a young maid to entertain himself. The maid was on all fours on the bed, and he was kneeling behind her with his pants around his ankles, and her skirt pushed up over her hips. He was yanking on her hair, and she did not look like she wanted to be there, her face was red and tears were frozen on her cheeks. The look in the Prince’s eyes told another story. He was enjoying himself, and judging by the contorted look on his face, he was nearly done.
Nash drew his dagger and placed it on the exposed flesh at the base of the teenager’s back. “I’m taking what little soul you possess,” Nash said as he plunged the dagger into the boy’s lower back. As the Prince joined Nash, separated from the time-stream, he died, and Nash laid him gently on top of the back of the young lady he was raping.
Nash exited the room and closed the heavy oak door. She would need a few moments of privacy to escape when she realized the Prince had died on her.
Strolling the halls to go back to the party, Nash passed the youngest Prince’s room. “It would be so easy to kill the third Prince right now,” he said to himself. “King Sargus would probably reward him greatly for making sure there was never a chance of an alliance by marriage between the two nations,” he thought.