*********

Later that same evening….

“You boys better cough up your best because I’m all in,” Haedis tempted them as he tossed his family’s ring and the symbol of his station, the Dragon Dagger, into the pot.  He was finally on an upswing of luck.  Tonight he was on a winning streak and he wasn’t going to quit until he had them all begging for mercy.  This was his time to shine in the game.

“I don’t know, Marshall, you’re rather ruthless with the cards tonight,” complained one of his opponents.  Delsey, the dealer, sniggered.

Haedis was not satisfied with his current winnings.  He wanted everything of value they owned, including their wives and daughters.  He would not give up until he had it all. 

“I’m sorry Marshall.  You cleaned me out already.  I’m flat broke!  My wife is going to be a bit buggered when she finds out I have to go back to the docks tomorrow,” said the other player.

Haedis grinned viciously, “No, Jerelad, my good man.  You do have more to wager.  I have put up all that is dear to me and I suggest you do the same.”  Haedis beckoned the man to him.  “I’ll give you a chance to win back all I have won from you this night as well as my ring and dagger that I just added to the ante but you must wager a night with your wife.  Or – I could just take a night with her without your wager,” Haedis said in a deadly tone.

Jerelad froze with sudden fear but a wink from the dealer provided him some relief.  “Of- of course, Marshall.  I love my wife but it is as you say.  It seems I have no choice.  I must take your wager.”  He held his breath during the next deal fearful of the outcome.  Haedis, on the other hand, so cocksure of his changing luck that he missed the glances that occasionally passed between Delsey and the other two players.

Haedis checked his cards with a foul arrogance that emanated from his soul.  He smiled evilly, chuckling from deep within his throat.  He displayed his cards for all to witness his skill in the game but as he reached for the jackpot his silent opponent raised a hand.

“You cannot take that which does not belong to you.  This is a lesson you have not yet learned,” said the man without expression.

“What are you talking about?!  I won!” roared Haedis.  This cocky scoundrel was about to lose his head, literally.

The man laid his cards on the table for all to view.  Sure enough, his was the winning hand.  He quickly scooped his winnings into a burlap sack before the stunned Haedis had an opportunity to remove anything from the pile.

“That’s impossible!” he raged.  Haedis looked at the other fellow that wagered his wife’s discretion.  “This changes nothing!” Haedis flared.  “You still lost!”  He threw the dealer a deadly glare before he stormed out of the tavern leaving the door gaping open in the wake of his fury.

The three men breathed a long sigh of relief then roared with laughter.  Not only had they kept it all but, more importantly, they managed to humiliate Haedis in the process.  When they laid out their scheme initially they had serious concerns about the consequences should they succeed.  They had heard his vengeance could be brutal.  However, in the shadow of their blind triumph the fear of retribution became a minor thought. 

The three conspirators split the jackpot evenly.  Strangely, neither Delsey nor Jerelad mentioned the absence of the Marshall’s dragon dagger.  The ‘cocky scoundrel,’ Rydell, had quickly hidden the dagger from sight during Haedis’ tirade.  The Marshall’s dragon dagger, he knew, was far too extraordinary to share with anyone.  He would definitely have to find someplace special to store it safely.  He was pleasantly surprised when neither of the other two spoke of its disappearance.  When the three finally completed their business together, they parted company on the tavern veranda.  It is unfortunate for them that in their haste to congratulate each other for their cleverness they failed to notice the rise of hot breath from beneath the eaves of the building across from them.

Each man left the tavern on business of his own.  In the still night, an owl in the high trees could be heard calling to its mate as the two hunted.  Jerelad was the first man to arrive at home.  While wagering his wife’s honor was not something he would typically do, it was common knowledge that no one refuses the Marshall.  To refuse the Marshall was to ask for a death sentence, a speedy one at that.  He was greatly relieved that he would not have to explain any of that nonsense to her.  While she also knew the repercussions of a refusal, she would be distressed nonetheless if she ever discovered that Haedis had targeted her.  Being the subject of the Marshall’s desire was not a compliment nor was it any woman’s dream to draw his attentions.

Jerelad entered his home quietly since the hour was quite late.  He was closing the door behind him but before he could close it completely Haedis forced the door open knocking the man into the opposite wall in the process.  Jerelad fell, slightly stunned but was quick to recover.  “Marshall!” he exclaimed in surprise.  “I’m so sorry Marshall.  It wasn’t my idea I swear,” he began to blubber.  “Delsey, the dealer, it was his idea.  He said he could fix you good and you wouldn’t want to come back here again if we humiliated you.”  Haedis sneered disdainfully at the grown man who was now crying and babbling hysterically.  Haedis was not in a very forgiving mood and was completely unwilling to accept any apologies from the man.  Instead, he kicked Jerelad in the head rendering him unconscious.

When Jerelad awoke, his wrists and ankles were bound securely.  His vision was blurry but he could tell that he had been propped in a corner of his bed chamber.  He heard a faint noise that struck him with instant dread.  He turned his head slowly toward the sound only to be greeted by the horror of Haedis’ bulk covering the terrified figure of his wife.  He screamed in shame and anguish already knowing no one would come to their rescue.  Jerelad did not know how long he had been out but he was fairly certain that by now all of his neighbors were well aware of the situation.  In order to protect their own families they would absolutely not come to aid his.  Because he understood their cowardice he could not fault them for turning a blind eye.  He cried bitterly as he witnessed the ravaging torture his wife endured.

Haedis, consumed by his own lusts, sneered viciously at the man whimpering in the corner.  The petite woman struggled in vain to escape his grip.  Tears streamed down her face as she attempted to twist away from his violent thrusts which only seemed to intensify his excitement.  Haedis covered her mouth with one hand, held her slender wrists securely with his other hand while covering her small body with the bulk of his own.  His body seemed to shudder for several minutes as he forced her to accept his seed.  In spite of the effort it took to relieve his depraved desire, he discovered he was not yet satisfied.  Haedis turned his head just enough to glare at his victim’s husband.  “I’ve had your wife twice now,” he stated in a deadly tone, “I believe I’ll have her again.”  He laughed insanely as he roughly violated her restrained body with his hands, probing, searching for her tender spots that emitted cries of pain and terror from her.  He continued to ravage her body in any way he could think of reveling in the sounds of her cries of desperation and pain.  Jerelad’s pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as Haedis focused on satisfying his lusts. 

When Haedis was finished, he grabbed her throat and tightened his grip until she lost consciousness.  He pushed himself away from her, rose from the bed, and strode purposefully to her husband.  He pulled Jerelad’s head up from the ground by his hair forcing him to look upon his wife’s nakedness, her body bloodied and bruised.  Ashamed, he continued to beg Haedis to have mercy upon them.  Haedis leaned as close to the man’s ear as he could and whispered, “I want my ring, my dagger, my horse, and my money back.  I want it all back.  Rest assured I am going to kill you and your friends.  I will take what is mine and then some.  Your pretty wife over there,” he paused as he made sure Jerelad had a clear view of her, “will be keeping me company for a little while.  When I get bored with her I will kill her too.  That is the sentence for your crimes as a cheat.”  Haedis quickly snapped the man’s neck and the body went limp.  Haedis roared insanely feeling justified in his actions.

He dressed quickly, looked back over his shoulder at the prone form of the woman.  She was breathing steadily but appeared to still be unconscious.  “Don’t worry my dear,” he whispered, “I won’t be too long.”  He left their home on a mission to render justice upon the other two men.  He took in a long deep breath of the fresh mountain air.  An owl was heard screeching to its mate.  “Yes indeed,” he said quietly, “it is a grand night for hunting.”

Haedis was about halfway through the center of town when he stopped momentarily to inspect a nearby alleyway.  He thought he had heard something coming from that direction.  The rooftops of the buildings, however, prevented the moonlight from distinguishing one shape in the dark from another.  There was a stout row of wine kegs lined against the front of the cooper’s shop and several wooden crates stacked neatly against the corner of the shop opposite it.  Haedis strained to listen for the sound again but heard nothing suspicious.  Just then a scrawny black cat jumped to the top of the barrel closest to Haedis.  He swatted at the cat who in turn hissed back at him.  Haedis grabbed for the animal, determined to snap its neck, but the cat was more agile than the intoxicated Marshall and escaped unscathed.

Haedis, now more irritated by the sudden distraction, continued down the dirt street in his search for Delsey.  The cunning dealer would have to work an incredible trick to cheat death for Haedis had no intention of leaving him in any other condition.  Once he finished with the dealer he planned to find that third scoundrel and destroy him as well.  He had something very special in mind for the man who felt he could speak to a Marshall so disrespectfully.  If Haedis had drunk a bit less tonight he might have realized sooner that the man was mocking him.  Haedis knew how to hurt men, though, and hurting that man was going to be fun.  He resumed his mutterings as he walked with renewed purpose to the place where Delsey slumbered contentedly.