The #Broken_Dagger Forum

He was bleeding heavily from several places, with a half-eaten left arm and entrail strewn about the ground around him. Eyes were glazed and with his last bit of strength he refused to let the tears flow. He had defended his aging mother with the broken handle of a pitchfork, fighting more valiantly than many could claim. Never had he taken another life, or even held a weapon, but the sight of that thing attacking his dear elderly mum was more than the carpenter could stand. He had placed himself between his mother's bed and the creature that sought to make a meal of her, swinging that splintered wooden handle back and forth. True: he had lasted perhaps fifteen seconds before he was tossed aside like a rag-doll, left broken and bleeding to be chewed upon later.

It was amazing that he even still lived, having sustained such wounds. But amazing as it was, it would take a miracle of great proportions to see this man live much longer. It truly wasn't the Ranger's choice to make, to end the dying fellow's misery; but looking down at his slowly extinguishing life, mercy overcame reason, and the carpenter's life was ended quickly.

"Oi, You! Wha'dya think you're doin'?" a voice cried out, followed by the sound of running feet. Madel turned and ran before he knew what he was doing, only serving to further project his guilt. He didn't see much of the man that called out as he ran, just enough to recognize a guards uniform. That, and the "Col' blimey! Come back 'ere you! Come back! You'll 'ang fer this!" told the Ranger that he was in trouble.

It should have been easy enough to clear up: Just explain to the guards what happened. After all, how was one man supposed to rip another man apart like that? But, apparently, it wasn't that easy. Nobody seemed very interested in hearing what really happened, they all wanted to catch a ruthless murderer. Several posters had been tacked up around town, depicting a very sinister madman, complete with the scarred face of the Ranger, crouched over the body of a young man. There would not be an aquittal for Madel, only a noose.