Cold.
Josiah hated the cold.
Josiah and Jack had been positioned outside of Wolfhaven for about a week now and camping in such weather was atrocious. Sudden blizzards and heavy rain was apparently the norm in the north however their equipment was unable to withstand the tests of time and cold.
Both Josiah and Jack looked ragged and exhausted. Their clothes torn and the fabric frozen to their bodies. Frozen blood and frostbite bitting their skin. But despite that seeing the icy fortress gave them both a newfound conviction.
The sight reminding them both why they are here. And what must be done.
Josiah sighed, "It would be better if our reason for arrival was less.. violent."
Jack giggled over, swinging his arm around Josiah, "Yeah, but hey we made it! Four months of the misadventures of Josiah and Jack have finally come to a close."
Josiah shook his head, walking forward feeling his rage burn brighter with every step. Giving him more clarity, more strength, but seemingly losing himself… "No, the shows only just begun."
And off in the distance, watching these two young men walk towards Wolfhaven, home of the Baron of Winter. Was the old Crone, smiling to herself, and disappearing in the mist of winter…
The fortress was massive, its walls scaling over multi kilometers and over 50 meters tall. Tempered from the cold, and built by dark obsidian frozen from years of ice encompassing it. Standing outside the large gate leading inside, two guardsman saw two unassuming people walking towards them.
The one on the left standing tall but clearly fatigued and suffering from the cold. His bronze skin looking pale and frostbitten in places. His black hair frozen at the tips and the snow making it look more silver than black.
And on the right, a rather joyous… woman? However it was hard to tell from the distance. She didn't look much better than the man she walked beside though.
As Josiah walked up to the guards one of them stopped him.
"Halt, we need to verify your identity before you enter."
'Shit. I didn't think this far..'
Just as Josiah was searching for a proper excuse Jack cut in, stepping infront of him and caressing the breastplate of the guard.
"Oh come on boys.. don't leave us out here to freeze. I'm sure we can come to an.. arrangement? We are a little desperate I'm sure he," Jack turned over his shoulder and winked with a devious grin before turning back, "Won't mind one bit."
The guard looked at his fellow man then back to the woman infront of him.
With a smile, he gestured for Jack to follow him.
"Oh, yes I'm sure something can be arranged. But he has to stay until we finish getting you… verified."
Jack whistled, "Guess we'll have to be quick then. I can't let him freeze now. He looks rough now but he's quite the looker."
The guards glanced at Josiah and laughed. Before wrapping their arms around Jack and leading him inside, "Sure, whatever you say lady."
Josiah, left outside stood patiently. He wasn't exactly sure what to expect from Jack. But up till this point he had been rather reliable, there was no point in being distrustful. Worst case he would simply camp out again.
Not long after Jack had left however, he was skipping back outside whistling a different tune. Something Josiah had heard him whistle before. The tune Jack sang when he had murdered someone.
"Come on in! Getting verified was quite simple."
Josiah walked up to Jack and sighed, "Did you need to kill them? Our business is not with them. Senselessly killing everyone will get us nowhere."
Only after he said that did Jacks smile fade. The mask he constantly wears to protect his true thoughts.
"No. It was something I had to do, everyone in this cursed city is deserving of death."
Quickly regaining his composure, Jack smiled up at Josiah, "But hey! I found us a way in, and I found us a place to stay for a bit."
Josiah simply shook his head and walked in… directly to the maw of the beast…
—
"So why does Jack hate everyone in Wolfhaven? I thought his problem was with the Baron." The boy patiently asked.
The man nodded to his question, "Yes, Jack did hate the Baron. But he hated the people working under him more. It'll be explained in time child. All things will."
The boy wasn't satisfied with this answer, but anything was better than nothing. Even now he could see, that every word the man spoke slowly spread the cracks layering his body. As if speaking itself was unraveling everything he was.
The man seeing as the boy had no more questions, inhaled deeply and stared at the statue. Then he spoke so quietly, it was almost inaudible,
"…his reason was nearly as willful as my own. He had every right to seek his revenge.."
The boy said nothing, and neither did the man.
The silence was peaceful.
The boys ignorance was blissful.
And the man, began again…