[center][h2]Sir Garrett[/h2][/center]
[center][i]Themerlinhawk[/i][/center]


After Marianne had made her departure Sir Garrett looked at the maid who had remained. “Sorry for the morbid story. I think I’ll be headed to bed now.” Standing Sir Garrett let her take his dinner plate and with that he returned to his room to contemplate how he could have handled such a delivery better. [i]Probably spare the gory details next time. That might help[/i] 

As he disrobed for bed he caught a glance of himself in the mirror. Tracing his left hand up his side he frowned as his fingers followed the wicked scar that traced its way up his ribs. It was an ugly thing and had shocked more than a few people. For the most part it was hidden by his arms and posture but when he held his arms above his head it was quite apparent. With a heavy sigh he tossed aside his shirt and flopped onto the bed with a loud creak. Rolling over he closed his eyes and tried his best to get some sleep.

Sleep did not come easy for the big man.

[i]Oh dear brother. I miss you so.[/i]

[@harinezumikouken]

[hr]


Standing at the back of the pack Sir Garrett rested his left hand on the head of the axe which hung from a loop on his left side. It was a single headed curved head axe which he’d brought with him to the Knights. It was covered in Hillscript which chronicled his deeds prior to and including his time with the Iron Rose Knights. The tiny tick mark like language had covered the haft of the axe and was starting to infect the head of the axe. The most accomplished warriors owned a pair of the axes covered in their deeds. In a few more years it would be time for a new axe to compliment this one. 

After much contemplation Sir Garrett had finally gone with a grey poet shirt with embroidery. Over the shirt had gone a black overcoat that terminated right above supple leather boots that were covered in similar embroidery to the shirt. When he was younger he’d owned a hunting coat that reminded him of the Black overcoat and that was no doubt why he enjoyed the coat. 

The black and grey stood in stark contrast the the Ivory bracelets and necklace he wore over the top of the poet shirt. The bracelets and necklace were composed of polished ivory and preserved, polished, animal bone. Hanging from his left wrist was a bracelet which chronicled his mother’s family and her deeds prior to his birth. On Sir Garrett’s right wrist the bracelet Chronicled his father’s deeds prior to his birth. The two bracelets told the story that had lead to his and were a reminder that one day he would leave behind a legacy of his own when the time finally came to pass on a similar bracelet to his children. Around his neck the necklace was a statement as to the legacy Sir Garrett had inherited. It was a mark of his station within the Hill barbarians of Velt and to others who could recognize the markings it was clear as day who he was. 

As the others were announced Sir Garrett braced himself for the announcement. Very few of the Knights knew [b]Exactly[/b] who he was and only slightly more knew what his given name was. To all of his friends and peers he was simply Sir Garrett of Velt, civilized barbarian from the foothills of Cahladren. Stepping up so that he could be announced he kept his face carefully schooled. 

[i]Sir Valdoth Thorn of Clan Skildren, Count of the Western Reach, [i]Sword[/i] of Clan Skildren...[/i]

Sir Garrett cringed ever so slightly as the Herald nailed down every little bit of his title breathing a sigh of relief that it was over he almost retched when the herald managed to get even the last part of it right. 

[i]Heir Presumptive to the Jarldom of Skildren.[/i]

Much paler than he had started the party Sir Garrett immediately made a beeline for something incredibly strong to drink. It was going to be an interesting night indeed as he could feel more than a few eyes on his back. Not that too many people really cared about the Hill clans in Velt but their were vast tracts of land in the foothills controlled by the Jarls of the six clans and the herald had neatly painted a target on his back as an Heir Presumptive. Admittedly there were six other Heir Presumptives for the Jarldom but Sir Garrett was generally considered one of the two real contenders. 

After securing something that appeared to be a brandy Sir Garrett edged away from the majority of the people and did his best to focus on getting the whole brandy down as quickly as possible.