Nemesis

Darkness had fallen across the land of Sosaria and a cool chill blew in on the wind through the arched window. He sat on the stone throne stiff backed and upright. He looked about the hall, recalling a time gone past - the now gray stone corridors had once seen life, the banquet table in the room to his left once never emptied and the walls radiated colour from banners. That time had passed.

A pattering of four feet echoed around the corridors of the family home. He stood, his ice blue eyes studying the doorway at the opposite end of the great hall. A snout appeared around the crack of the large wooden door - a blur of silver and black darted toward him. He sat once more on the throne, now with a wolf pup on his lap, nibbling on his finger tips.

"Loupas..." the corners of his frown cracked into an upward peak, almost smiling to the hound "Why do you stay hear?.. with a miserable man waiting to die." He sighed, the smile had disappeared once more and his solumn expression returned. The wolf jumped off his lap and sat patiently to his side - knowing the routine. He stood again, stepping down from the throne and making his way to the window.

"The last of my bloodline Loupas...A father slain at the hands of a son, a mother cast out and slain at the hands of an assassin, a sister slain by her own brother." He growled, anger boiling in his blood "And me... you left me for dead dear brother." He rubbed his throat, running his hand along the scar line from left to right "A sharper knife would have finished the job."

Loupas, the wolf, growled at the Shadow cast by a flickering torch.

"Loupas!" He snapped "...Loupas... do not fear - he is dead now, my brother. He took his own life to end the dark curse of my family." His tone softened as he moved back to the wolf and knelt. They looked each other in the eye "Necromancy my friend." He closed his eyes "His mother had a gift for the dark art... and passed it to him." The wolf stepped up and licked his face "Not me though Loupas - we shared a father, not a mother. Though, I have a curse of my own now. I have lost a family and live in the knowledge I am the last of my blood line." Loupas took a firm hold of his cloaks end and tugged. "You are of course right my friend... we should leave this place. Leave the House of the Wolf behind us, and the memories that haunt its wicked corridors."

He stood, moved to the throne and strapped a slime blade to his belt. The wolf trotted behind him down the corridors of the manor and out to the estates enclosed courtyard.

"Wait outside the gates Loupas. I shall follow shortly." The wolf did as commanded.

He lifted the last burning torch from its rack and tossed it to the ground.

"Farewell witch... farewell brother Richard. May your souls find forgiveness from the Virtues." Fire quickly engulfed the dry grass in the courtyard. He closed the gate behind him as he moved toward the coast line.