literature

Howling of the hounds

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It wasn't late yet the night rejected all help that the moon submitted, draping it in the darkest of curtains available. Even in the scarcity of any ray, shone the red burning embers embedded in the sockets of hounds whose black coat blended with perfection in the night.

They hushed up as the escalating, rhythmic thud of hooves along the asphalt road reached them and their ears lowered while saliva dripping teeth tucked in. As the hounds sat down near the open gate entrance, the carriage passed through, adorned with the fine craftsmanship and decorated with fresh flowers and bells hanging from the quarter lights and ledge that lined the head of the carriage. It didn't meet the taste of the man that looked through his window at the guest's arrival.

A person with a thin mustache, wearing a white suit with a cloak that barely covered his fat, protruding stomach sat in the carriage, gazing with disdain at the whining hounds, scoffing; what purpose would such useless animals serve. He spat at them from the window. Meanwhile the man at the window had disappeared.

"Greetings Baron" a person wearing a black stripped dress with a shawl loosely pulled around him and sandals, with a medium built and a well kept beard smiled warmly, walking out of the doors of the mansion. The thin mustached person in the white suit got off with a grumble but forced a smile holding out his hand with feinted warmth.

"Greetings! How are you doing Main?" he said while the Main shook his hand firmly and welcomed him in while the carriage retreated out of the gate. The hounds yawned and snarled slightly as the carriage went by, sniffing a bit and realizing the prey to have evacuated it.

They both were led to a sitting room by the butler which was a spacious hall with its length laden with chairs and tables of the finest woodwork available in the neighboring city of Ikona, famous for its crafty laborers. The walls were embellished with paintings are crafts of delicacy and beauty that contained the signatures of the brightest names, both deceased and living.

Then there were the many candle stands on the tables, across the center of the hall that lit the entire place, giving a slight flickering tinge to it.

"So how may I help you Baron?" The main raised his hand gesturing towards a diwan "But where are my manners, would you care for a drink?" he asked, lowering his hand and sitting down on the farthest of the leather sofa's filled with fleece of the best quality for it maintained its shape and texture without compromising in comfort; a rarity.

The Baron snorted smugly over the offer seating on a divan adjacent to the sofa on which seated the Main "Very well, a fine glass of Port would suffice"

"Ah but you know Baron I don't serve alcohol in my home. It is a shame really that I had to repeat that despite previous reminders. Would a brew containing the extracts from the fresh fruits picked this morning suit your taste?"

The Baron scoffed without hiding it "fine, bring in whatever you want"

"Very well" the butler standing by them bowed and took off. The Main again turned to his original query "So what might bring you here Baron, on such short notice?"

The Baron tried straightening but failed due to the bulge accumulating above his waist line. He then groused before proceeding "I dispatched some messengers earlier on my behalf but they returned with your refusal of the request"

"And what request of yours was it? You happen to remember you send many requests my way. I have lost count" The Main said, placing his right leg on his knee, with calm yet slightly amused expressions.

"The request was regarding the harvest share you so persistently confiscate from my lands" The Baron retorted, his eyebrow twitching at the Mains calm expressions

"Ah… so that is what it is all about now" The Main stated leaning slightly forward "We have discussed this before. I can't -"

The Baron interrupted "Yes you can! Cut it off those wretched low life farmers but how dare you even think of -"

"Harvest" the Main interrupted, his voice calm yet not as cheerful as before adding a cold tinge to the atmosphere. The candles flickered as the resting hounds outside alerted, their ears standing as their mouths began slobbering. They gave a loud howl or two into the night before going silent again.

The Baron shivered slightly not knowing what to make of it.

"Harvest" the Main continued, his voice now turning cheerful again "share is applicable on every individual owning more than a minimum share of land. The Guilds have always collected it. That is all there is to it Dear Baron. Rather a person of your caliber should not in the slightest even regard this as an issue worthy of discussion"

The Baron gulped, shivering slightly from the momentary chill. Eventually, he returned to his grouchy self "But why is my tax tenfold that of De Scavenger? He is a Knight, a wielder, not an Aristocrat!"

The Main sighed lowering his head; he had never felt the need to explain basics to one pledged as a Baron "his land though is the same in spread as yours but its produce is Black Cane, a harvest required for various purposes which requires the least of Labor. Yours, I am sorry to say produces only in your favor" before the Baron could interrupt he added "I am sorry"

The Baron raised his eyebrow as the butler returned, closing the door behind him "So you are not going to help me. You shall abandon me yet hold your grace for that filthy Knight? Has that time come? Will the Guilds betray the very people that constitute of the Guilds and team with the wielders?"

"My refutation stands like before" The Main said intertwining his fingers as he sat, a grim stare directed at the Baron as the butler approached the Baron holding a tray with a goblet containing a fine concoction of berries and fruits.

The Baron's tone turned harsher "You are forgetting your place as head of the Guild, D' Conner. You exist only to keep us happy!" He stood up, striking the tray as the goblet fell, the concoction spilling from it, a few splashes falling on D' Conner's suit.

D' Conner went quite before calmly replying "I would say Baron Balister you should respect the fact that in terms of rank yours is-"

"You Runt!" Baron Balister spat as he proceeded to the door "You dare compare Rank with me? I am favored by the King Himself! You even consider yourself an aristrocrat? Ridicolous! You are like those whining dogs outside that do nothing-"

D' Conner looked up "Ah now that is more like it" he interrupted softly, standing up. The room went cold. Unlike before, it was intense enough to puff out the candles closest to The Main. Baron Balister stood still, staring as D' Conner chuckled slightly.

"You are quite right" He took a step forward that shook the very Mansion, making the paintings clatter. The moon hid behind sinister clouds and the candle light flickered. Baron Balister's eyes widened in shock as he realized a terrible truth. He turned to the door, desperately twisting the knob but it didn't turn.

"You know" D' Conner said with another step as another candle stand blew out "The hounds outside resemble certain humans" The animals bared their teeth, their eyes pulsing with excitement as they felt their prey being cornered "These hounds let a person stray into their den easily. But when the prey tries to run away, they show their true nature" He smiled as the sound of howling filled the room.

Baron Balister squealed with fright, rattling the door as the snickering butler pulled away, dissolving into one of the paintings. The flickering light was slowly dimming as D' Conner's eyes started glowing slightly.

"You did note how calm and how whining those dogs were?" D' Conner laughed as the howling grew louder as if the bloodthirsty beasts stationed outside the door "But look how ferocious they seem now"

The Baron breathed deeply as the howling filled his ears and the painting of a chuckling Butler sneered at him "Wouldn't it be fun dear friend" D' Conner approached closer, the light dissolving into darkness "if you would ever confront such a person?"

Baron Balister twitched with gaping eyes at the approaching demon. The howls were thrashing in his head, driving the man insane.

"Rather" the howling suddenly hushed as the last candle stand blew and the darkness engulfed everything in the room, including the Baron. "Y- You…" the Baron stuttered with the sanity he still had. "H- How c- could a ...a wielder be Ma- Main of a Guild?!"

Cathandor D' Conner, the Main's eyes glowed bright red, slit forming pupils "Rather, would you prefer to meet the very hounds themselves?" Slowly red slits appeared around D' Conner's as the growling of hounds rose in the very room.

"It is a shame Baron."

The Baron cried a last time before the embers closed in on him, tearing the prey apart for it was time "You made the wrong choice in angering me."

No one knew what happened to the Baron the night the hounds howled most. Alas, the Wielders slowly filled the Guilds on the Kings Order. Times were slowly changing.
The preview image is not my creation, it is an work made for "The Hound of Baskervilles" by Sir Arther Conon Doyle. I have no rights over this!

This is a portion that reflects slightly on the theme or doings one generation before the story I am working on. While the readers (you) do not know of the plot, this story is self explanatory with perhaps one small definition; The head of a Guild is called Main and that is one Rank above Baron.

In a similar way it can be taken as a small work that does not have any affiliations with a major story line. I hope you enjoy it; I know my works have many flaws but I put a lot of effort in them nonetheless.

For those who have time enough to read and critique:

1. You liked it or not forgetting it might be affiliated with a story line. Rate 0 to 5.

2. Did you get the idea; ignoring the last part which may be confusing.

3. Was the dialogue and procession of events fine. If not then please explain where.

4. Was the description and language satisfying ignoring the most basic grammatical errors (Will be appreciated if major errors are pointed out)

5. The portion in the end... does that make sense both literally (since it is fantasy novel) and figuratively (psychological).

6. Was the ending satisfying and did it instill and feeling in you (depression/eeriness).

7. General Comments.


For all those that DO critique, I will say thanks before hand. Thank you very much! I will also do so when replying.

Thank you all for your time!
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Amanda-Graham's avatar
Please porvide an attribution for the cover art for this work.

Thank you

Mandy