Snippet #1737022

Kordoshi spent most of the day foraging and hunting for a few of the elderly folks he had come to know over the last year or so. He still wasn't very good about staying and talking to them, which is something they tried to make him do quite often, but he was familiar enough to speak to them for about five minutes before excusing himself. Today had been a fantastic day for hunting, and he was quite happy with what he was able to provide for them. The only problem was that he had forgotten to hunt for himself over the past two days, so he was famished and a bit disoriented as he walked home.

Along his way, he listened to the sounds of the forest around him. Birds chirping, squirrels bickering, a wolf howling in the distance as the moon began to peek over the mountains in the distance, and the sounds of the wind through the trees all served to ease his mind and bring him some comfort after a long day. The pathway he walked on was a simple animal trail that had been worn down over the years as small and mid sized animals traversed through the terrain, breaking branches and shaping bushes and grass patches. It was a hunter's dream to find such a trail because it meant it was a heavily traveled route and was frequented by animals quite regularly.

Today, Kordoshi was wearing his traditional 'split shirt' as he called it, since he was not well versed in proper clothing names when it came to custom designs. He wore simple black pants and had a grey scarf around his neck for warmth. His weapon of choice for the day had actually been a rather large sword. The blade was too heavily for most to lift without using two hands, but being a Taura he wielded it one handed with ease.

The forest route home was not a long one, and before too much time had passed he was outside his cabin, which he had built himself. He didn't want to live in the city, nor did he want to find an apartment. He preferred to be away from society being as solitary and estranged from it as he was, and was neither very keen on the idea of finding someone to take him in. He enjoyed the solitude and serenity of living on the edge of the forest like he did, and relished in the fact that nobody knew where or who he was... That is, until he looked into the sky after seeing a strange shadow begin to form nearby in a small clearing just off to the side of his house.

He drew his blade and ran to the spot where the shadow began to gather and was shocked to see eight Hippogriffs descending with a carriage just behind them. He stepped back to give them room and watched in amazement as everything came down in front of him, and there was a short silence before a well dressed man finally stepped out of the carriage.

"Perchance is this the home of a one Kordoshi Tei' Sai?" The man asked casually.

Kordoshi composed himself and swung his blade, placing it level with the man's throat. The man had two bodyguards come out of the carriage behind him and take a place at his sides, obviously undaunted by Kordoshi or his blade.

"There is no need for that my good sir, I have come in peace to ask you a simple question, provided you let me ask it. My name is Badic Pharalnup, the assistant to the High King. The question regards your future and is of utmost importance, my dear Kordoshi."

He eyed the bodyguards for a moment before looking back to the man in front of him.

"There are very few alive today that know me by that name, and even fewer who know of my whereabouts... how did you come to possess this information?" He demanded, his voice laced with ire.

"Ah, yes... How do we know that you exist. There is a simple answer to that question my boy. You were taken in as a child by a man in the employ of the High King, as a matter of fact. He has a network of spies and Assassins, as is normal of nobility or royalty no matter where you go. Anyway, the High King has known about you for a long time, and whether you remember it or not you have met him once before when you were a lad in training. You have been watched for a long time, and the High King is very interested in you my boy."

Kordoshi's head tilted to the side. He was excellent at reading people's eyes and body language to find out if they were lying, but this man was obviously telling him the truth. He lowered his blade and the bodyguards relaxed as he placed it behind his back and clipped it into place.

"Let's say I believe you, why would I listen to you or hear your question?" He asked harshly.

The man simply smiled. "As I told you, my question regards your future and indeed the future of all the kingdoms. The royals of each nation are to be wed to a commoner from each nation. The High King has decided that, as a skilled Assassin, you would be the ideal match for a Princess since you would be a capable and strong husband worthy of succeeding the throne of her kingdom. My question is this: Will you come with me to Elphanor and accept the graces of the High King to be wed to a Princess of his choosing?"

Kordoshi was silent for a long moment as he stared at the man in front of him. He looked to the bodyguards, who were as stoic and serious as he was, and then back to Badic.

"... Is this a joke? If you knew about me, then you know what I have become over the years. I am not fit to be the husband of a Princess. I have nothing to offer anyone besides my skills as a killer and a hunter. I'm sorry, but I must decline this offer."

He turned around to head inside when a hand suddenly found its way to his shoulder.

"I am afraid that I must insist. This question is not a request, but a command from the High King himself. If you refuse, then I'm afraid that I must use force to bring you with me. I understand your skepticism about your qualifications, but the High King has his reasons for choosing you and it was no accident or coincidence that he did choose you to begin with. Please do not make me resort to force to bring you in..."

Kordoshi turned his head around slowly and looked Badic in the eyes.

"... Take your hand off my shoulder Badic..." He said in a low and threatening tone.

Badic did so, but let out a sigh.

"Very well the Kordoshi, I am sorry..." He said as he gave a wave of his hand.

The two bodyguards rushed forward, and Kordoshi spun to face them. They were much faster than he had expected, and despite his strength as a Taura, these men were able to grab both his arms and lift him off the ground. Without a solid base to stand on his strength was all but useless so long as they had him in the air. They slammed him into the wall of his cabin with tremendous force, slamming his head into it in the process as well. The momentary loss of focus caused by the impact was just enough for Badic to come forward and throw an unusual powder into Kordoshi's face. He tried to hold his breath but it was too late, he had taken in the powder which now burned his nose and eyes as he backed away from them.

It didn't take long for the concoction to take effect, and Kordoshi lost consciousness. When he awoke, he was inside a carriage with a young and attractive woman sitting beside him with his head in her lap.

"Are you feeling alright?" She asked.

He stared at her and then shot up to a seated position. She placed her hands gently on his shoulders and did her best to calm him down.

"Relax, you are already in Elphanor and are in front of the main Castle where the Ball is to be held. Your weapon is on the other seat, and we would like to bid you welcome to the Capitol and to this most glorious event. Congratulations on being chosen, by the way." She said sweetly.

He looked at her with anger, but that quickly subsided. It was not her fault this had happened, and it was not by her plan or design that he was now here. He had no future, at least none that he had been able to see. He was simply going to live the rest of his life alone in the forest if he had a choice in the matter, but the thought that perhaps he didn't have to live that life alone was actually a comforting thought. He doubted that any self respecting Princess would ever find someone like him attractive or as husband material, but there was hope building in his heart.

He grabbed his sword and clipped it to his back when he exited the carriage. He was welcomed by the guards at the entrance and allowed passage to the Ballroom. Once inside, he looked around at the massive room and found it almost ridiculous that it was so big. When he thought about the event that was being hosted, it didn't seem so crazy, but it was still something he was not used to seeing. He walked over to one of the tables where there were some refreshments and poured himself a glass of water. His outfit had not changed since this morning, thankfully, and he was grateful not to be dressed in a suit. He didn't like fancy clothing.

"Well... You've gotten yourself into quite the fine mess now Kordoshi." He said to himself as he sipped his water.