“The blood is the life!” she kept repeating in one of her more melancholy moods.
“The blood is the life.”

One morning, The Baron lost a finger during a sword practice.
He knew instantly what it was.
He quickly grabbed his sword and prepared himself for the oncoming stampede.
The Baron desperately asked for a priest to come and put the finger back.
The Baron, at that moment, felt he must know a way to get back his lost finger.

The Baron’s badger, as he is named, knew of a way to put the finger back and give the Baron the use of it again. It was the way to get back at Elspeth.

The Baron started to practice his routine in the morning, at noon, and then again at night.
After a few days of practice, the Baron’s badger noticed a change in The Baron’s behavior.
It appeared as if he was under the power of the ring.
For the first time in his life, The Baron was performing and caring about what he was doing.
For the first time in his life, The Baron had a goal to be achieved and felt he was a man who deserved to have a sword at his side.

On the sixth day, The Baron attacked Elspeth.
She fled to her bed, screaming as she passed out of pure fear.
The Baron knew that she wouldn’t wake up again.
The Baron was angry.

Elspeth’s quick recovery from the kiss earlier in the day was a dark sign.
The Baron asked for no more amorous interruptions.
“I demand a wedding ring!” The Baron growled as he fought off the rest of the band.
The Baron defeated every band member, destroyed the bar, and spent the rest of the evening stripping the bodies of all valuables and firewood.
The Baron did not return home until morning.

The Baron had a plan.
The servant.
The servant realized that he was being manipulated by a ring.
He knew if he went to The Baron, the Baron would never wear the ring again.

And the Baron would never play piano again.

:: 09.21.2022 ::