Chapter 71: The Ganamere Screamer

Bones are sinking like stones near the walls of Ganamere. Jess of Bevardis could hear the winds outside blowing loudly. Ganamere is a haunted place. No one wants to be here other than the fools that want to earn coin. He is one of the fools that want to earn coin just like the others. Ganamere and its outskirts offer shelter as long as they can hunt down the beasts that are roaming around. In Ganamere there are vampires and wereman’s that feast upon the flesh of the people residing. He could see the dark desolated outside covered with white. The halls that he is in were filled the hubbubs of the rest of the hired mercenaries. He’d joined a caravan but it got ambushed. The band scattered and he could only scatter like the rest of the others. He followed some merry band to this place. They say that the lord of the land wanted helpers. Jess needed the coin so he went here in this ghastly face with only his bow and blade. His kuyak kept his body covered while the Shemagh wrapped around his face warmed his head.

“Blasted place,” a man spat on the floor while leaning on the window like him “everything here looks damp even though it is winter.”

“The coin is good though.”

Jess said, looking at the man with his eyes.

“Aye, good coin indeed, wouldn’t be staying here if it wasn’t for the coin. No woman in sight and the halls are filled with stinking men or blood. Or of Beer or Piss.”

“Indeed, the bloodsuckers are still out there. The moat holds them out but at this rate, we will be feasted upon by those monsters.”

“Let them try. We armed ourselves with silver. Not to mention Ser Garland the Great is manning the hold. Proud knight only caters to us and he’s a good man to follow when the night’s dark and dreary.”

“The Ser is strong. Half-step to Paladin hood, he could hold this place on his own.”

“Aye he could” the man continued “but doing so will take effort. The bloodless freaks are out there. Not to mention old salt has been hearing and seeing dark lords cowering in the woods. Bloody hell if it wasn’t for the silver and the blessing of the God of Light this place could have been swarmed.”

“The horses have been tied well. Have we enough oil for the lamps?”

The man sipped his beer.

“I don’t know. But listen, lad, do not let the light fool you. I fought the bloodless freaks before and they show no mercy. Here in the dry east of the south, swamps, and the likes are a lot. You look like a new one here...where are you from lad?”

“Live in the slums of Bevardis.”

“So a bastard born of Nameless looks like you got it, tough son.”

Jess nodded.

“Yeah, I drink cow milk right off the tits of a cow when I was three. Heck, I got lucky six years ago when someone wanted to teach me the land and the ways of being a raven wrangler.”

“So a ranger you are huh, nice, this old man grew in the eastern tall lands and found my self, sucking on the tits of the nobles as a levy. Work on a farm once, and then got recruited as levy soldier and dragged this far south.”

Jess looked at the yellowish pale tone of the man. He indeed looks like someone that came from the eastern tall lands.

“But anyway” the man continued. “I am Gezhu of Kalanka, nice to meet you lad.”

He finally introduced himself, Jess thought.

“Same, I guess you are saving up for a trip back to home?”

“Maybe,” he sips his beer jug. “Though I can’t remember home anymore or what it is. I am here for the coin like usual, aren’t you the same lad?”

“I am...never want to go back to Bevardis but there are times I would like to go back and smell the wind.”

He said. Jess remembered the hills of Bevardis and it's beautiful glade beaches that stretch like a snake. The port that was filled with boats and galleons made him want to go back.

“Aye, home is nice, we pray for it and we do anything to go back. But at the moment we can only pray that the bloodless freaks would fuck off back to their nests. Have you seen the lanky piece of cocky shit in the gates when we entered?”

Jess thought first and replied.

“Yeah, who could not forget him?”

“Well, that guy is dead. Got his spine broken when he was alone pissing alone in the snow. Lad forgot his silver and couldn’t even deal with the monsters.”

Gezhu said while gazing at the shadows of trees.

“Was it quick or did the bloodless made him food?”

“You guessed it. The old scouts saw his body being sucked by at least four freaks. The worst part was that the lad had his cock sucked and mangled by those bloodless freaks. It would have been good pleasure if the woman who does it was not a freak but as it stands his cock got ripped off badly.”

Jess cringed.

“Oh God of Light, that is painful sounding.”

“It is.” Gezhu sipped his beer. It was almost empty. “Go near the southern part and you could hear the lad’s screaming. He’s a piece of shit no doubt but he doesn’t deserve that.”

“Did someone put an arrow to kill him?”

Jess asked.

“None of the lads dare to approach the area. They might get charmed by their spell arrows. Bloodless freaks are good at killing us.”

Gezhu lowered his empty mug and spat on the ground. Jess gaze at the window again before walking to one of the tables and filling his cup and Gezhu’s with a flagon. The guy who was holding the flagon was dead drunk. He probably wouldn’t be able to stand tomorrow.

“Here have some.”

“Good lad.”

Gezhu smiled. Jess nodded.

“So are you going to kill the cocky shit?”

“If it silences him, then yes I will would you mind joining me?”

“Well, you poured me a drink and unlike the small cock bastards here. You seem to have guts. Killed a lot?”

“I did a lot while on a nameless mountain. Followed a strong Magus, don’t know if he’s dead but I hope he is alive.”

“I see. Well, when I finish my drink let’s go and kill the lanky piece of shit.”

Gezhu chugged on his beer. Jess sipped on his beer while contemplating. The moon is out there and the night is dark. The howling winds of Ganamere meet the walls. It was a cold night.

...

Jess and Gezhu went to where they could hear the moans of the lad. The walls around were mossy and old. The area was silent and Jess could see the rows of dead trees that cover the muddy lands. The snow made the trees less bleak but the swamp was visible.

“You hear that?”

Gezhu was holding his sword while keeping an eye around. He wore studded leather with ring mail padded on the leather. His stature was tough and he was taller than Jess. His eyes showed no fear and there is a trace of wariness. The beer couldn’t hold him down.

“I do.”

Jess replied. He could hear the moans and echoed pain of the lad that they are going to kill. His cries are woes to the people in the fort. The fort is rather large and stony and noise could be barely heard inside. But getting out one would hear the noise of the lad. It causes morale too step low and sleeping while remembering that painful moan makes the people scared. Jess and Gezhu wanted to silence the man and at the same time bring him to peace.

“Where is it coming from?”

“There, I could tell by the echoes he does. He should be about in the middle near that boulder.”

“You think the lad got nailed to the stone?”

Gezhu squinted trying to see. The distance was far and he knew doing that was useless. Jess could not tell where he is with his eyes. The forest of dried trees coated with snow cannot be seen greatly. Even a telescope wouldn’t do them any good here.

“Most likely, maybe I could nail him if I shot thrice.”

“You’re that confident?”

“I have been practicing.”

Jess nocks an arrow. He estimated the wind and the distance before letting go of the bowstrings. The arrow flies away towards the dread forest but the moans of the lad didn’t stop. The wind was too strong so Jess thought he must have missed.

“Looks like that was a failed shot”

“The lad’s still screaming.”

Jess nocks another arrow and this time decided to shot father than he estimated. He was sure the arrow hit the swamp because it would make a sound if it hit the boulder. The distance was okay. The wind was blowing from the East. Jess adjusted his eyesight and pointed the arrow halfway to the sky.

He released the arrow. The arrow flew and once again there was no sound. He muttered before saying.

“Do you think I should hit his throat?”

“As long as you kill him then it would be fine. Those bloodless freaks might move him if you miss again.”

“I see.”

Jess draws another arrow from his quiver. This time he immediately pointed the arrowhead’s tip to an angle and released the arrow without even thinking. The arrow flew slowly but it then sounded out. He could hear the sound of stone being hit and flesh being ripped. There was a scream that sounds like someone was choking so Jess thought that he might have hit the guy.

“You hit something.”

“I heard.”

Gezhu eyed the place. He could not hear the scream of the lad anymore.

“Looks like you got him.”

“Did I? I might have hit a bloodless.”

“If you did then there would be ashes flying up. That’s it, rest in peace you shit.”

Gezhu said with a dirty tongue. Jess, however, saw him mutter and clasp for the lad. The wind blows towards him and it was getting cold. Jess put his bow away and said.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Aye, it’s cold out here. Let's go”

...

They then went back inside the fort. While trotting inside they saw the man of the Fort. With his wrought plated armor and his shield peeking behind his back. The two saluted the lord commander of the Fort.

“What are you two doing out there?”

“We were giving some Mercy to the lad back there Sir.”

“Oh, that man. You killed him?”

The man called Garland look at Jess.

“I did.”

“So you are a good shot. Nice work, I was planning to kill him with a spell of mine but it seems like I don’t have to do it anymore.”

“You were planning to Sir?”

“I was. The men are getting sick of his cries. And having our minds down while freaks are out there is dangerous. So good job young man, you did well.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Good, with the man dead I could return to the defenses of the fort.”

“Goodbye Sir.”

Garland nodded his head to the two. Jess and Gezhu saluted the lord commander of the Fort as he strides back to his office. They have nothing to do so they return back to the halls where most men were. They are still drinking their beer. While there are some who are devouring food like mad.

The situation of Ganamere was quite bad. But the men in the halls were supplied with food. It was the last of winters already. They only need to hold out for a week until spring arrives. The bloodless will retreat when spring comes. They only dare to attack the fort of Ganamere and enter the town behind it because of the weather.

Jess has stayed here for a month. He fought with the men inside the Ganamere walls and so far he saw people die one after another. Most men don’t talk when they are stuck in places like these. But with how the harsh winter is coming to an end. Jess could now at least talk to Gezhu and say his name.

They were having a feast for surviving this long. Jess would get his coin and he can finally get out of this place. He doesn’t particularly don’t like the place. It was dreadful, wet, and most of all mossy. The beds are filled fleece and the water was disgusting. In fact, the beer and some wine were the only things that they could drink in this place. At least it had taste compared to the dirty swampy water.

Jess stood near the open wall. He eyes the forests while hoping for winter to finally end.