“Sirens?” Lawrence sat up, blinking several times. Well, it seemed that monsters existed in this world as well, not just unlawful hooligans.

“Mhm… The tale was that a songstress was given a precious gem enchanted by her husband, who was a court sorcerer. The gem allowed her to sing even more beautifully, so much so that even the wolves would stop howling, just to hear her voice in the streets of the capital!”

“Then, one day, she betrayed his love, having had a tryst with a knight. Her husband quietly vanished and that was when a madness began to take her.”

“She refused to take off the necklace, having torn off the face of a handmaiden who had tried to take it off for her while trying to wash her.”

“Instead of eating and drinking like you and me, she began to go to the pond and then the sea to feed on fish, crabs and drink from seawater.”

“A year later, the king ordered that she be deported. However, the ship she boarded never came back and it is said that she still dwells there, feasting on the flesh of shipwrecked sailors.”

Having finished his story, Craig poured himself another cup of tea.

“Another tale says that the Siren was a result of the Mad Queen Hydrena having experimented with immortality, fled the royal city as the Crusaders stormed into it to purge the evil from the city. In her desperation, she drank a failed potion and dived into the sea.”

“From the way you are saying the story, it sounds as if you don’t really believe it?” Lawrence asked and Craig paused for a moment before replying.

“I do not believe things I have not seen with my own eyes, but it is true that any ship that comes for our village never makes it here in one piece. In fact, this village was said to not have seen a ship in a good 80 years.”

“Well, if it is really a siren, wouldn’t Lord Black have sent men after her?”

“It is not so easy, my friend. Only extremely wealthy lords can afford to maintain ships, as you should well know how much they cost, not even factoring in the costs of training sailors. From what I understand, the late King Carmine had attempted to launch an expedition to kill the Siren, but all three ships never came back. Old Man Frost will know more.” Craig said, wanting to pour himself another cup but the pot was now empty.

Looking slightly disappointed, Craig stood up.

“I think it best that I leave. I hope to see you in the town soon, my friend!” Craig said cheerfully but was stopped by Lawrence.

“Can you sell the Agrimony leaves for me? I’ll let you take 20% of whatever it is sold for.” Lawrence said and Craig’s face screwed up in the calculation, probably mentally calculating the number of times gold coins will fall into his hands.

“Well, I would agree, but Lawrence my friend, wouldn’t it be better for me to just bring you to Ludium to sell it? Or you can wait for the merchant caravan to come by if you are lazy.” Craig suggested and Lawrence thought about it for a moment.

“When will you be going to the city of Ludium?” Lawrence asked and Craig replied casually, “Next week. I need to make sure the bandits are really gone for good first.”

“Alright, then let’s go there together next week. I’m going to assume the merchant convoy is coming only after next week?” Lawrence asked.

“Yes, it is only Febriar the 4th tomorrow, they only come on the 28th or so.”

With that, Craig thanked Lawrence for his hospitality and Lawrence bade him goodbye, watching as the hunter left cheerfully, bow in hand with a quiver of bows on his back.

Closing the door, Lawrence went to his bedroom and pulled the blanket over himself, gradually falling into deep sleep.

“Report! The Village of Black Bay has sent a representative to inform his lordship of a bandit attack that had occurred!”

A man dressed in a polished chainmail and carrying a spear was kneeling in front of a table as he said this. Behind that table was a man who looked like he was in his forties, but in actual fact, he was only in his thirties. However, the state of affairs has made him a man who has aged before his time.

He had streaks of white hair in his otherwise black coloured hair, a pale sickly complexion with sunken cheeks. However, he had a strong jawline and a high nose bridge, resembling those sickly princes in fairy tales.

Hearing the guard’s news, Lord Edward Black groaned.

“How many dead? Those bloody bandits…” Lord Black cursed but the guard shook his head.

“No villagers were harmed, milord. I think it best if the messenger from Black Bay Village tells you himself.” The guard said after a moment’s hesitation.

Tired, Lord Black gestured for the guard to allow the audience.

As Jacob entered, he bowed and Lord Black waved off the gesture.

“Thank you for coming to me in such haste about a bandit attack. How bad is it? I can spare a few dozen household knights to you if this would help alleviate the situation.” Lord Black said, gesturing for his servant to bring a cold towel for the man who had undoubtedly fought through fire and hell to get here—

“Ah, Lord Black, you are very kind, but the village has successfully repelled the bandit attack with no casualties at all. In fact, I bear a gift for milord…” Jacob clapped his hands and one of the villagers was holding onto a rope. On that end of the rope was Jacques, the bandit leader.

“This is the leader of the Axe Hill Bandits, Jacques Francis,” Jacob announced and Lord Black, who had been holding a goblet of wine all along, placed it on his table with a loud thunk!

“Well, well…” Lord Black sneered, a rare expression of complete glee as he hurried over to the badly bruised Jacques Francis who had collapsed on the ground.

“It is indeed him!” Lord Black said, after closer inspection.

“Waste no time for a trial, this man goes straight to the gallows at dawn! We will have his corpse hung at the top of this very fortress!” Lord Black barked and two guards came in, relieving the villager of his charge and dragging the whimpering bandit with them, no doubt to the deepest and darkest dungeon.

“I am extremely pleased with this piece of good news, but how did uh—“ Lord Black hesitated to ask, trying to think of a way to frame it delicately.

“There was a veteran adventurer that happened to pass by, he helped us get rid of the bandits,” Jacob replied and Lord Black, who had sat back down in his chair, raised an eyebrow.

“You are telling me a single adventurer sorted out what dozens of heavy household knights could not?” Lord Black asked, his tone cold and serious but Jacob nodded cheerfully, as if not a care in the world.

“Milord, if you could see how this man fought, I exaggerate not one bit, but he seemed like an unstoppable crusader fending off a hoard of darkness and evil. His sword danced with the grace of Annulia, the Goddess of Beauty, his tower shield stalwart, as strong as the fortress of Bastion, his armour, as tough and reliable as the scales of a Dark Dragon—“ Jacob began his process of exaggeration and Lord Black listened intently.

“Is he a hedge knight or a knight from another part?” Lord Black asked, scratching his chin and Jacob shook his head.

“He claims to have come from a faraway territory known as Singapore and has been adventuring ever since.”

Lord Black sat back in his chair and pondered over this. The last time that he tried, truly, to purge the Axe Hill Bandits from his territory was with 90 footmen and 30 household knights. Even then, they came back with several dead and injured. True, this time, the bandits were confronting the villagers on their home ground instead of the forests and hills in which they are adept at hiding in.

However, who can singlehandedly take on over a hundred men?

“Thank you, you have been very informative and true to the service of the realm and your lord uhh….”

“Jacob, Jacob milord. Jacob Witzger.” The butcher bowed and the lord of the keep gestured for the man to be awarded and led away.

“Kaisenberg, what is your take on this?” Lord Black asked out loud and from behind the partition, out stepped a swordsman, in his mid-fifties.

On his chest plate was the engraving of a bull, the sigil of the House Black. The armour though polished, showed many dents and scrapes as if tested in battle. On his waist was a longsword, decorated on the hilt with the face of a bull. He had a hair that was white but from the way he moved, which was steady though slow, exuded a confidence that would place even the most panicked lord at ease.

Kaisenberg Orion is Lord Black’s closest confidant and a tested warrior from these parts. Kaisenberg has served Lord Edward Black’s father and now himself.

“Milord, I think there is more than meets the eye,” Kaisenberg said softly and Lord Black nodded in agreement.

“Even if you asked me to storm a bandit hideout by myself, I will probably manage thirty of them at most before someone hits me out of sheer luck and overwhelming numbers. However, from how the messenger described, that man had not even a notch on his shield or armour.” Kaisenberg reasoned and Lord Black tapped the table idly.

“Tomorrow, go with the messenger and some gold. While rewarding the man, I want you to find out what you can about him. Take a few knights with you as well. If he happens to be an outlaw, a hedge knight or some undesirable, I want you to finish him off, quietly.” Lord Black said and Kaisenberg bowed.

“It will be done as you command, milord.” Kaisenberg replied, his voice so soft that it was barely audible.