After getting back to Jordrakenschloss, the party went their separate ways. Rackerby thanked everyone involved for their help, and just like that, everything went back to some semblance of normal. Oskar returned to work, Hilde and her friends returned to Brakoff, and winter fell on the realm in earnest. Hilde, Trangdor, and Belynda made it … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 28

Early the next morning, Rackerby and everyone heading back to the capital with him, piled into his carriage. His footmen loaded up the baggage with ease, singing in a low tone to make their work flow more efficiently. Hilde and Oskar said their goodbyes to the family, all of whom had spilled out of the … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 27

The family had gathered in the great room of the manor to commiserate over the judgement handed down upon their patriarch. Oleysa and her husband came down from the citadel to pay their respects and took the opportunity to announce that Oleysa was pregnant with her first offspring. This was a cause for celebration in … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 26

After escorting Baron von Vorkel back to his home in Vorkelvale, the guards fell into formation and marched back up the road. They had to catch up to the Imperial convoy, and there was no reason for them to loiter about this barony. As they started up the road, they passed the Judicial Corps soldiers … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 25

The curious folk that had been herded out into the corridors of the citadel outside of the dining hall, were now ushered back in. Once everyone had returned to their seats, the guards closed the doors, and the Herzgraf returned to his place behind the Queen on her right side. Reichsha held the walking stick … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 24

The prisoner was led into the temporary courtroom, down the aisle between the rows of benches, upon which sat the von Vorkel family, their servants, the residents of Vorkelvale, and the handful of officers from the garrison that had been allowed to attend. Everyone watched as the baron walked as proudly as circumstances allowed to … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 23

The morning reveille sounded, and for the bulk of the people in Vorkelburg, it was business as usual. The only thing that was different was that they had to stand in line outside the delivery doors of the main kitchen for their breakfast. The snow had stopped falling for the time being, but the men … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 22

Grundoon took a deep breath and sat down on his cot. Wrapping his quilts around him, he began to talk. “After the Battle of Garvin’s Gap, we found the almost-dead remains of the fellow that started the war. He was miraculously alive, thanks to magical ring he had. His armor had melted, and he was … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 21

While the Queen and her handmaidens settled into the room vacated for them by the Herzgraf, the dashing elder paladin had taken up temporary residence with a half-dozen captains of the 60th Cavalry Regiment in the room they shared along the eastern wall of the citadel above the stables. Nobody thought this especially curious, although … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 20

Empress Reichsha’s arrival at Vorkelburg was preceded by five more black dragon riders, two of which landed in the courtyard of the citadel while the other three circled in the sky. The riders from the first two dragons quickly ran to the gates of the castle and took up positions to welcome their Queen. This … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 19