#effronthetwisted

[txt] I didn’t see you personally but I bet I can find out.  

“Effron, is this yours?”

“A package for you, Master Effron.” The courier deposits a letter and two dark bottles wrapped in brown paper on a nearby table. The man makes a swift retreat, even tripping over his feet in his haste to escape the inebriated warlock.

The letter is penned in a very neat hand – too neat, as if the writer had learned the letters by rote and then faithfully duplicated them without any attempt at personalisation. The wine is powerfully fragrant.

Dear Master Effron,

My employer has been made aware that you have an interest in magical curiosities and elven wine. My employer is a purveyor of both and I kindly invite you to patronise The Hermit’s Hoard next time you are in the area.

Please enjoy the wine; it is my employer’s own vintage. I recommend that you avoid sampling it on an empty stomach.

Yours in invitation,

Sifri (Assistant, The Hermit’s Hoard, on behalf of proprietor and owner Rens, Saviour of Dezerton)

@effronthetwisted

Most of the time Roxy didn’t mind traveling alone.  She could take care of herself generally.  On the road she was usually wary, able to avoid ambush due to her unique contacts.  however, most of the time those ambushes in larger numbers didn’t usually happen in the outskirts of a town.  Dark alleys might have a jump happening by a small group but Roxy didn’t expect to have a pack of twelve or so men grabbing her.

The winter equinox was approaching and the bard had arranged to meet her lover here for what few free days Effron had.  Squeaking in shock, Roxy’s arms were quickly pinned behind her back by a ruffian,  another holding a knife at her throat, and the others moving forward to look through the pack she had been carrying, the clear leader sauntering up to her.  

A smirk on his face, he reached out to her.  “Let’s see what treasures you have hidden on you, girly.”  Roxy’s skin crawled as his hands ran across her body lingering a bit too long for her comfort. She considered kicking him but the slightest movement had the knife at her throat pressing closer, a thin line of blood trickling down her throat.

“We didn’t expect such a rich prize so late in the season.” The leader, a large man in black mismatched armor with tangled blonde hair, commented as he dug through the belt pouch he had fished from beneath her tunic.  “You’re a bit scrawny but I bet there’s a good price to be had.  You’re pretty enough at least.”  He smirked wider.  “Maybe I ought to try you out before we find a buyer.  I should know what I’m selling.”

Roxy’s eyes widened then blazed.  She wasn’t a piece of merchandise to be used, sold and then cast aside.  She would never be a thing.  She had spent most of her adult life fighting against that while traveling on her own.  She struggled to get free, spitting in the lead bandit’s face.  Scowling the man backhanded her, leaving her dazed from the force of the blow, the knife at her throat drawing a deeper cut to drip down her neck to soak into her cloak.  

Small flickers of flame darted through her curls as she hung limply in the bandit’s arms, the snow around her feet melting into muddy puddles. 

“Tie her up.  Let’s get off this road.”  The leader’s voice barked, prompting the one holding Roxy to heft her over his shoulder  Blood dripped to the ground with the movement, the sprite remaining limp.  She refused to give in.  Only half conscious she drew in the strength that burned inside her, thinking only to burn the man holding her enough for him to drop her.  

The secret side of me, I never let you see I keep it caged but I can't control it

Her drawn blood and the unsteady control over her abilities combined with the dazed state of her mind and the fear of what might happen to her loosed every leash she had on the fire within.  It blazed up in a circle around the bandits, leaping into the sky.  The woman was dumped on the ground with a startled oath from the one carrying her.  With a grunt she rolled to her feet, swaying. 

So stay away from me, the beast is ugly I feel the rage and I just can't hold it

“Monster” –Skillet