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

The Herzgraf was given the best accommodations that Vorkelburg had to offer, and after he and his retinue got settled in, the paladin summoned General Grimstag to see him in the communication hall, which was mostly deserted except for Dellila and Oskar, who were playing cards just outside of it. Oskar was in uniform, so … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 18

It took some time, even using the communication crystal in Vorkelburg, to convey to the Inspector General Grundoon’s petition for his case to be judged by Empress Reichsha, and for the answer to be sent back from the capital. It took a week for everything to work out, but at last Rackerby had an answer … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 17

Another couple of days went by, but how many exactly was difficult to nail down for most of the people in Vorkelvale. Time had begun to slip sideways away from the denizens of the vale, and bitter winter weather had settled in. The first snowfall of the season was beginning one evening, when down the … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 16

Aggrylia had time to calm down over the next few days, and while nobody could have expected her to bounce back to her jovial self that everyone knew prior to Hilde and Oskar’s arrival at the manor, she was at least able to rally herself to be actively engaged in what needed to be done. … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 15

Hilde had been correct. The Judicial Corps detachment of the 6th Army wasn’t about to hurt Grundoon in any way if it could be at all avoided. Now that he was in their custody, they did what they could to make him comfortable. His new accommodations were rather more austere than the aged former general … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 14

Hilde and her brother waited for over an hour before their father had calmed their stepmother enough that he could get back on his feet, and deal with what needed to be done. Grundoon took the paper that he had been writing on off of his desk and folded it neatly. Using some sealing wax … Continue reading An Applewood Gallows; Chapter 13