The evening after the auditions, Ash prayed. He stayed at the shelter provided by the runner's society. The keeper was nice, though perhaps too nice, especially when they had heard to whom the letter Ash carried was for.
Kortorn the Black.
Ash rolled the fish hook his mother gifted him in his hands. Ash did not know much about the man inside the castle. He fancied himself a king, that he knew. There had to be some big event at his castle, for many travallers wandered through the nearby village. She was said to be georgous, but that did not stir Ash's heart. He had heard strange things about Kortorn... He was possibly a mage, and most certainly dangerous. More importantly, he knew he dealt with strange creatures.
This could be my chance of learning more about the man with the goldne eyes. Outside his window, the castle where Kortorn the Black resided omniously peaked from over treetops.
Protect me, he prayed, though he did not know to whom he prayed to. God? His mother?
---
The next morning, fresh in his uniform, Ash approached the castle of Kortorn, letter in hand. The guards acknowleded the uniform, and one escorted him towards the castle walls. Ash cringed as the gate moaned shut behind him. Even so, he kept his eyes forward towards the door, his focus on his mission, his duty. I must do this.
