Price of Hate
By Cedric Kulacz
Part 1


All we do is hate her and wish her ill;
Because of this she hates us and lives by will.

Because of us she kills just so she can trust;
For all we do for her is deceive and lust.

This was a poem I found once. By the time I found it the poem had already been a year old. I would guess someone was trying to make a point about discrimination. Sorry where are my manners, my name is Biel Orsono. I am a wizard from the scholarly nation of Aldrynn; my people come in a variety of hair, skin, and eye colors; I myself have somewhat dark skin with dark reddish brown hair and violet eyes for example. Unlike many of the other cultures we are an open minded and tolerant society, we do not discriminate based solely on hair, eye, or skin color because we realize this to be an act of sheer foolishness.

After finding the poem I decided to find the writer and the society that the writer came from. We Aldrinni are a curious bunch and we love to learn what we can, though not at the price of morals. From what I could tell the writer was a Xeruli due to the writing style and that was where it was originally found supposedly, though there is the possibility that it’s wrong because the parchment was also used as a piece of wrapping paper.

I set sail for the land of Xerul to find this phantom poet and learn more about his or her tips and tricks for poetry as well as her inspiration, as obvious as it may seem. Though we are on the coast and Xerul is also on the coast of an island nearly the size of a small continent and Xerul is on the western side of the island, to the south of Xerul lies a country of hobgoblins called the “Hobgoblin Empire,&#148. It is a military dictatorship of tall, brawny, coppery skinned hobgoblins who have pointed teeth and dark blue to red eyes coupled with reddish or orange hair.

The hobgoblins are renowned warriors, fearless, tough, and masterfully skilled with the sword and spear though they see the bow or crossbow as weapons for cowards and the strictly refuse to use them with a passion. They are favorites as mercenaries for their combat prowess, and they are also very honorable yet also very ruthless ensuring that they will get the job done and will make sure you get your money’s worth; that is assuming you can put your money where your mouth is.

My port of harbor was in the ”Empire”, it’s by no means an empire by human standards but hobgoblins were originally a tribal people. It is said that a just warrior king had united them by saving them from oppressors, battling monsters that terrorized them, and strangely by hobgoblin standards… diplomacy. He was known as one of the greatest warriors in hobgoblin history but is widely referred to as an eccentric due to his favoring of ending conflicts peacefully as opposed to fighting.

After his death the empire still stood strong, but it abandoned his ideals. Still, I had to make my way through here to get to Xerul, and for that I needed a bodyguard as well considering where I was I knew there would be few places in the world to go in order to get higher quality hired muscle. Very few Aldrynni even know which end of a sword to hold let alone how to use one so I couldn’t really hire any good bodyguards there. Among the hobgoblins though, the question isn’t finding a great bodyguard the question was finding a great bodyguard… at a great price.

I looked around, the empire is a nearly desolate place with Spartan buildings, tools, weapons, and… well everything else. I’ve heard that hobgoblins have no care for appearance, only usefulness unless the objects appearance makes it useful; the most common example being that all hobgoblins wear red when going into battle to make it difficult to tell whether or not you actually cut them. Walking through the port town was… a little frightening I’ll admit.

The average hobgoblin is about six and a half feet tall. When you take into consideration that the average human is only just under six feet tall things can get a little intimidating. It’s even more so when you know everyone around you is most likely a much better fighter than you are. After a few hors searching I finally found the hobgoblin I wanted. A tall figure, nearing seven feet tall with several scars on his face, one eye red and the other blue, his face had a scar on his left cheek, a sign that some of the schools use to show he studied there. He wore a long sword at his side, a shield on his back, and a blood red tunic that was customary of hobgoblin warriors.

I have to admit I saw something on him that I hadn’t seen on any other hobgoblin… pants. I mean it, most hobgoblins don’t wear pants, just tunics which can make things very unpleasant when a strong wind comes by… not that I would know. The pants he wore were a Spartan design, not meant to be fashionable, but were both practical. To finish off his attire he also wore an iron breastplate and a pair of sturdy leather boots, not the most comfortable or good looking shoes in the world but their great to wear when you’re on your feet a lot as they protect your feet and will hold up quite well while you’re walking a long distance.

I started to haggle with the hobgoblin, I settled for two-hundred fifty silver for the up front pay and an extra fifty per week. Thankfully I brought gold not silver to pay him, two-hundred fifty is a great deal for a hobgoblin, assuming he’s skilled by their standards of swordsmanship. Hopefully he’ll get me through to Xerul, sometimes orc, goblin, hobgoblin, and even human and elfin raiders bandits and raiders prowl the roads.

I decided to talk with my new bodyguard, you know seeing what he’s like and gaining a new perspective on the hobgoblins. So I asked “So, what’s it like here in the Empire? Oh, and what was your name again?” I was always horrible with names, despite my supposed higher intellect than most Aldrynni I couldn’t remember a person’s name particularly easily.

The hobgoblin answered with “My name is Karoc; I am on a quest to find a master of sufficient worth. The normal hobgoblins are too concerned with fulfilling their ambitions and greed to be truly trustworthy and honorable, then there are the few hobgoblins that follow the ideals of the Eccentric First Emperor and those ones are far more interested in peace than war despite the fact that they call themselves warriors.” He was an intense fellow, and he somehow managed to avoid sounding hugely arrogant despite the words he used. I wondered what qualifications he was looking for in a leader though.

We left the town after a day and started heading for Xerul, I have no clue how these Xeruli or hobgoblins can handle this place. This part of the island is mostly a cold desert with only one forest on the part that belongs to the hobgoblins. Still it’s really hot during the day, and at night it gets to be freezing cold, neither of which seemed to bother my bodyguard.

I’ve heard that the countries and empires outside of Aldrynn were not as great as Aldrynn itself. While traveling I asked my companion “What is it like in Xerul?”

Karoc answered with “It’s another desert country like the Empire, save it is ruled by humans. Supposedly the king died and his younger brother a sell sword and pirate named Riomas and his cousin and closest friend Hemmar have been kept out of the country by a new cult leader and self-proclaimed saint. If you ask me he’s just another false messiah looking for power.” I had to heed the words he said.

I did not want any trouble of the religious sort. Even though we Aldrynni try our best to be moralists our views on morality and our interests in science and history do sometimes clash with the religions of others, and I didn’t want that. Of course if the person really I a saint blessed by a true god then I don’t have to worry, unless it’s one of the dark gods, this just gives me another reason to see what’s going on in Xerul though.

About a week, maybe two weeks passed and we reached Xerul. It was even more desolate than the “Hobgoblin Empire.” Apparently most religions here revered water here and drink is one of there biggest imports, some popular choices being hobgoblin beer and orcish mead as the country is close to the territories of both races.

I was tired, hungry, and thirsty I mean how could you not be parched when you’ve spent maybe more than a week walking around in a desert? It was about sunset when I found my way into the town, the place was emptying up, most of the people were going back inside to prepare for dinner and I decided to find myself an inn, good thing I brought quite a bit of money with me. I’m surprised no one’s tried to rob me but then again I’ve heard that stealing isn’t a good idea here in Xerul as it has the most people with adequate skills to catch a thief. I went into an inn and got my self some of what I think they called Samak Bil Tahini or fish with sesame paste.

My bodyguard ordered labni (a kind of yogurt cheese) with a side of chickpea soup and Aish Bel-Lahm (a kind of meat stuffed bread.) When our orders came  my companion started to ravenously eat the cheese… or at least more ravenously than he ate the bread. Though my bodyguard’s sudden loss of proper eating habits weren’t what startled me the most, even though he was almost obsessive about keeping them.

On another table there was a figure that was heavily clothed sitting down drinking anis-cinnamon tea eating Seleq (Lamb rice cooked in milk.) There were thick-insulated robes covering the figure with a hood to match. Upon further inspection I thought I saw a white hair emerge from the hood. I decided it was none of my business and walked out for a stroll after eating.

The figure seemed uninterested in what was going on around it, in fact it seemed to be eating quickly as to get out as soon as possible and be on it’s way. There was what seemed to be a large amount of caution with eating and the figure seemed to look around as if it were afraid that something would happen. The sight of one paranoid and heavily clothed figure was intriguing for a while but my interest soon faded as I continued eating.

I decided to ask Karoc a question after eating “I’ve never seen you eat like that before Karoc. What was going on?”

Karoc simply very politely wiped his mouth and answered with “That was some of the best damn cheese I’ve ever tasted. They say that nobody knows great cheese like a hobgoblin.”

I was caught by surprise; they really do say that from time to time. They also say that coming between a hobgoblin and a hunk of great cheese is one of the stupidest and most dangerous things a man can do. We started to have a conversation that lasted several hours and then I decided to go outside when nightfall came.

I took Karoc with me of course to keep any muggers away. It was chilly outside but the stars were beautiful. I always enjoyed stargazing so I looked around town for a good place to stargaze; after I looked around for a few minutes I found spot by what seemed to be an abandoned mansion

The place was kind of a sad sight to see, it was obviously a beautiful sight to see when it was occupied, I wonder why nobody lived in it now? As strange as it may seem Karoc started to relax for the first time that I’ve known him. Then again I never really knew the hobgoblin for very long. Then again I never had a real conversation with him until that incident at the tavern, good thing I already paid for our rooms too.

I decided it was time to go back and I got up alongside the hobgoblin. We started to walk back to the hotel when suddenly I was knocked down. Along the way down I heard what had appeared to be books hitting the ground. I got up and wiped the dust off of me to see the cloaked figure struggling to pick up the books it dropped. Only this time the hood was out of the way and I could see the person’s shoulder length moon-white hair quickly picking up the books.

I bent down and helped the person with picking up the books until I saw his… or should I say her face. He had moon-white skin with light blue bloodshot eyes with dark purple rings around them, not like as in black eyes more like a lack of sleep. Otherwise she was a beautiful albino woman with a face that could have been mistaken as something crafted by a master sculptor’s chisel out of pure white marble or other stone.

She was in quite a hurry to gather the books so I helped her. I gave her the books I collected and bowed down in apology saying “I’m so sorry Miss, I didn’t see you there.” After looking at some of the books I saw they were all poetry. Then, after realizing this I pulled out the piece of paper I had earlier and handed it to her saying “I hate to ask but do you know whose work this is? It’s in Xeruli so I thought the poet would be a Xeruli his or herself.”

Her face suddenly lit up with surprise… she recognized the piece. Her soft, frightful voice said “Yes… I recognize this piece… and I know who it’s from. If you’ll help me with this and tell no one you saw me I’ll be glad to help you.” She was afraid of something and I could tell it, though she was also quite charming and her rather attractive voice and appearance meant I couldn’t resist her request.

I have to admit, I was quite suspicious, and why wouldn’t she want me to tell anyone I saw her? I don’t even have her name… does she even have a name? Why was she out so late, then again she could have asked the same about me. One thing I know though is that she obviously has albinism so that could explain the choice of clothes as it would help protect her from sunburn. Though what seemed to be my most important question was who is she and how does she know that poet? Then again I’m starting to think the case is she IS the poet I was looking for.

After gathering up all the books I heard something… it was something awful that placed me to my knees. Well I hadn’t hurt it yet but I somehow knew it was coming… it was a familiar feeling I had with one of the studies I wished I hadn’t performed, though that was then this is now. I was fighting back puking at the strength of it, I could feel sudden burst of sadness, loneliness, and a sudden pangs of pain in my head as if I was quickly being struck on the head repeatedly.

I fell to the ground as my bodyguard suddenly rushed towards me. He was saying something but it was drowned out by something. Then I heard it… a sudden bloodcurdling scream in agony. At first it was just one… then several… at first it was just screams and mumblings. My head started to hurt more and more and suddenly tears formed in my eyes and I didn’t know why.

When I tried to get up I heard what sounded like a boy screaming the words “Please…. Please stop your hurting me.” I heard screams of agony and the wailing continue. I was suddenly left convulsing on the ground as my head hurt worse and worse. I looked towards the window in my seizure and saw a bloody handprint appear on the window bit the thing was… there was no hand that was forming it.

The bloody hand print was being made with no hand behind it, this confused me at first then I figured out what the case was. I was sensing something that was beyond natural… maybe even from beyond the grave. I had… “Certain” studies that allowed me to see, hear, and sense things others could not. It was mostly things from beyond the grave, a study that most would find unsettling even as it can grant great powers being forced to be aware of things like that would drive most men mad. At points because of my ability to sense things from beyond made me even question whether I was still sane anymore.

I got up and Karoc said to me “Are you okay sir? You suddenly fell down and started shaking.”

The woman replied to my falling down with “Having a moment like that would scare people around here. Some in ways you don’t want, unless it’s something about this house that triggered it.” She was right; there was something about this house that triggered my seizure.

I looked to the house and said “I can… sense things as one could call it. I can sense the dead and have a glimpse at why they are still here on the mortal realm. If what’s keeping them is strong enough… well I’m sure you all know of what can happen if it’s strong enough by now.”

The woman picked up the rest of her books as Karoc helped me get back on my feet. I had to lean on him for support as I was weak from my vision, I’ve had these before and usually a good night’s sleep would put me back on top of the game. Something happened at this house though and I want to find out. Though I’m sure whatever secret is there won’t be pleasant. What started out as a journey to find a simple poet has now become a quest to possibly put a young boy’s soul to rest.

My first question that came out towards the woman about the house was “Hey, do you know what happened up in that house?” I had to know, the sheer thought of someone suffering like that I could not deal with.

The woman answered, “Well, they do say a boy was murdered in that house. Afterward strange noises ad objects started flying around so it was therefore abandoned. People claim it’s a haunted house and refuse to go in.”

Well the only thing I hadn’t figured was the poltergeist bit and it was abandoned after the murder. If there was a murder then there’s a murderer, sometimes ghosts know who the murderer is but they aren’t always the best, or the safest option in solving a murder. I’ll have to look elsewhere to figure out why.

After a while Karoc was able to get me back to the inn and the woman threw the hood back on as she walked back inside. The barkeep suddenly rushed to help me out as both he and Karoc took me back up to my room and opened the door for me. I was actually kind of glad to have people who were willing to help me out of that little predicament.

My room was a cozy yet ordinary looking room. It had a table, a chair and a bed for one person with what seemed to be a freshly cleaned chamber pot. The hobgoblin and the barkeep rested me down on the bed so I could sleep off what just happened and maybe call in a doctor when one is available but I assured them that all I needed was a little rest.

The bed was incredibly soft and comfortable, then again a large part of that may be due to the fact that I was just so tired. I started to doze off as I was falling asleep and fell right asleep on the bed. Unfortunately though my dreams were not sweet that night,

End part 1