Lord Kenneth The Craven

Kenny followed Tessa in through a thick, dark-wood door, and he looked around at what was supposed to be the Snowdrop Tavern. Despite the exterior being covered in a thick layer of snow, the orange glow of the many fires and torches had the building beaming with life. Making their way to the barkeep, the fire crackles in the hearth, providing a welcome source of heat to the teen who had to admit he was missing his heavy jacket from home. His nose filled with rich smells of ale, wine, and stew, adding to the sense of comfort and warmth. Tables were crammed packed, giving Kenny the sense that this Tavern was often used by this village for a respite on these colder days. It was then that he felt the eyes of nearly everyone in the tavern on him, and even more uncomfortably, he could tell they weren't overjoyed that their lord was in the tavern.

"Not to worry, my lord," Tessa softly murmured, "They know better than to do anything, and if any get too close. I'll take care of them,"

Kenny kept his head low, making an effort not to make eye contact, "Well, let's not overstay our welcome. I'd prefer we keep the peace," Tessa hummed in agreement, but her right hand lazily rested on the hilt of a dagger on her belt regardless.

They reached the bar, and a man Kenny for once couldn't recognize set down the tankard he was cleaning immediately. He moved over to the pair, tossing the rag over his shoulder, "Welcome, my lord. Shall I open the wine imported from Amaranthine?" Before Kenny could respond, he heard a nearby patron let out a scoffing exhale and shook his head disapprovingly.

Tessa narrowed her eyes, but Kenny held up a hand, holding her from confronting the man on his behalf. The brunette seemed wary at the silent denial but dutifully follow the order, "Thank you, but I'll take a cup of ale."

Both the bartender and Tessa look at the man in minor surprise, "Of...course, my lord," He nodded and looked to Tessa, "And you, my lady?"

"Um, the same," The bartender turned around, grabbed two tankards, and walked to the other end, where the standard barrel of ale was set, ready to fill another glass, "My lord, has something happened that you'd perhaps -- How severe do you feel this ailment is? I know your memory has suffered, but you...hate ale. Always have. You prefer the rich wine of Amaranthine exclusively,"

Kenny scratched the back of his head, he had the foggiest of memories of this wine, but the taste, the hatred of other drinks was lost on him. He was never particularly picky when it came to anything, and he could barely believe he'd go so far as to import his own drink out of refusal for anything else, "My...tongue has changed. I don't need anything so extravagant. Ale is plenty," He muttered back in response, and the two tankards were set down in front of them.

"Not too good to drink with the rest of us, eh?" A clean shaven, bald man further up the bar asked as he heavily set down his tankard,

Kenny looked over at the man while Tessa narrowed her gaze, "What was that?" The man slowly turned, looking over at him with a frown,

"Do not disturb your lord while he drinks. Any man with a head not made of straw would know better," Tessa swiftly interjected and Kenny quickly looked over at the woman,

"I said, let's not start trouble, Tess," Tessa tilted her head at the response, she'd never been scolded for keeping the commoners away from her lord, not to mention this nickname.

The first man at the back got from his chair and began to approach while stumbling over from a nearby table a second man suddenly planted himself right between Kenny and Tessa. Black of hair that hung down in thick greasy strips the man stunk of stale ale and manure. Oddly enough, despite never having recalled seeing the man before, Kenny couldn't help but feel familiar with him. "Hear that, love? Our wonderful lord, Kenneth The Craven has kindly told you to fuck off. Perhaps you ought to listen to him," Tessa narrowed her eyes and her hand slyly went to her belt,

Kenny turned in his chair, "What did you just call me?"

The drunken man turned with a toothy smile, "Your well earned title my lord!" He cheerfully answered. Kenny blankly stared back him until the man's smile started to dip, "Don't you remember me, my lord?" He bitterly spat out, "I was the fella you had tossed out into the snow last time you and your breeding mutt came in for a drink," The man sneered,

At once Kenny rose from his seat, turning to the man while kicking his chair back, "Watch your mouth," The man's smile was replaced by a threatening glare and frown, "Go back to your table. Drink your fill. And leave us alone."

"Listen to your lord," Tessa warned, "You're already blessed he's giving you the chance,"

"Lord," The drunk scoffed, "You aren't a lord, boy! You aren't even a man," He smacked his hand down flat on the bar with the insult, "Me and the lads had a little bet running," He laughed, "We think that when you was born, your balls was lopped off and given to Lady Juliet!" He bellowed out a laugh and with his other hand shoved Kenny back.

Kenny stumbled back and that's when he felt the searing pain in his head again. With the drunks insulting laughter still filling his ears another phantom memory burned it's way into his mind. This one was just as the drunk man recited to him. Kenny and Tessa entered the tavern on a cold winter's day. While he sipped on wine the man just barley brushed into him and Kenny was horrified to witness how he responded. He screamed at the man, insulting him for ever daring to near him. Rightfully the man grew angry, and that's when Kenny remembered cowering behind Tessa, demanding she toss him out. There couldn't have been a bigger coward he knew.

The teen went down to one knee, shuddering as the seering pain started to subside, "One little push and he's like a whipped dog!" The man bellowed in laughter. He turned back, sharing a look of glee with the bald man on the other side of Tessa before looking at the woman herself, "What a grand lord he is!"

Tessa lips curled into a small and she let out a sweet giggle, catching the man off guard. His laughter slowed and he raised a brow to the brunette only for Tessa's expression to flip like a switch. With gritted teeth and a furrowed brow, Tessa yanked out her dagger like lightning and drove the blade right through the drunk mans hand, pinning him to the bar.

Kenny's eyes sprung open, horrified as the man very nearly collapsed to his knees, horrifically screaming as he clutched as the blade handle. The bald man grabbed Tessa's shoulder but with a sharp elbow he was sent stumbling back. The girl wasted no time in spinning around, reaching for her great sword, "Stay back, my lord, I'll --" She protectively began to order Kenny only for the portly drunk man to wildly grab a tankard from the counter, using his free hand to smash it over the top of Tessa's head.

The brunette let out a pained shout, stumbling forward right into the bald man's reach. He aggressively swung the back of his hand, smacking Tessa across the face and sending her into a table. "Tessa!" Kenny exclaimed watching as his bodyguard, and closest thing he had to a friend, crashed over the edge of the table tipping it over, and limply rolling to the ground.

What happened next was something Kenny wasn't expecting from himself. Following the rage that boiled inside him, his body reacted with the skill of a trained combatant. He ran forward, grabbing his own tankard and cracked it over the drunks head. From there he rushed the bald man. He took a swing at Kenny and naturally Kenny brought his arms up, blocking the first and swiping the second away. He then grabbed him by his shirt collar, yanked him forward, and send head right into the edge of the bar.

"Y-You bastard!" The drunk winced, gritting his teeth as he pulled Tessa's dagger out from his hand just as Kenny tossed the now limp bald man away. He lifted the dagger, screaming as he charged at the young lord, and one again Kenny's body reacted. Only this time, what came natural only horrified him in the end. As the drunk swung the dagger down, attempting to bury it's steel in his neck, Kenny dodge to the side, instead grabbing hold of the mans wrist and redirecting the attack so the dagger ended up lodged right in his attackers chest.

Kenny gasped along with the man, who's body trembled for a moment, staring back into his wide brown eyes before he dropped to his knees and then flat on the floor, dead. "H-Holy shit -- H-Holy fucking shit!" Kenny stammered, his entire body was trembling and he felt as though he was about to get sick.

"My lord..." Tessa groaned as she weakly crawled to her feet. The brunette stumbled towards him, her dazed eyes looking down at the two men and then back at Kenny with shock, "Are you alright my lord?"

"I...I killed him," Kenny whispered back, unable to tear his eyes away from the man on the ground,

"You defended yourself my lord, he was trying to kill you," Tessa instantly reassured him before looking around, "Come, we shouldn't stay here. We'll call for the city guards to take care of them," Tessa assured as she began to walk, but Kenny remained locked in place, "Kenny," Tessa softly said, reaching out and taking his hand, "It's alright, come." She gently urged and he nodded,

He looked up to the bartender who was staring at him just as shocked, "Um...give...give the wine out for free tonight. I don't want it," He softly ordered and with a wary look the bartender nodded before Kenny turned following Tessa out of the tavern.