The Violet Reaper- Part 5

The man looked frightened. “If you are not buying then go away. I want nothing to do with that mill!”

“Sir, please. I only-”

“No, now go!” The man said loudly and removed the stick that was holding the shop’s window open. The window fell, slamming shut, nearly hitting Alexander inn the back of the head as it did.

Well… this is going well. Alexander thought sarcastically. With that, he left the market, or... attempted to anyway.

“You,” someone said quietly to him from nearby. Alexander looked around, assuming the woman hiding behind the corner of a wooden building was talking to somebody else. He found no one, and gestured to himself questioningly to the woman. “Yes, you. Come here.” She said in a hushed voice. Alexander was hesitant to say the least, but confidant in his skills as a soldier, he walked over sure if it was a trick, he could defend himself. The woman was about his age, shorter, and with long brown hair. She wore red robes, like Alexander had seen on widows back in his homeland, that went all the way to the ground. He face was covered by a portion of the robes, like many of the other women in the city.

“What do you want?” He asked suspiciously.

“You’re not from around here, are you, sir?” She whispered.

“Listen, I am not looking to buy any maps. Have a good day.” Alexander stated flatly and began to walk away.

“I am selling no maps, sir. Why are you asking about the mill? Everyone in this city knows not to go to the mill, especially at night.” The woman said. Alexander stopped, and started taking her more seriously.

“What do you know of the mill and the people there?” He asked, hopeful he had finally found someone who could provide him with answers.

“I know only what everyone know: to stay away from the mill.”

“Why?”

“It is an unholy place.”

“How so?”

“The dead sir, the men there are the dead.”

“What do you mean?” He asked, confident he had found something.

“I know only stories…” She clarified.

“Tell me them anyway.” Alexander said.

“Some say: the mill was built upon the gates of the pits, and those who die there are able to avoid death’s grip.”

“Are you saying that people are coming back from the dead when they die there?” Alexander asked, playing along as if he had no idea what the truth was.

“Not everyone, but some.” She explained.

“Who specifically?”

“They say it started with the original owner of the mill. A grinding stone fell from its mount, and it crushed him. But he was seen not three days later at his home.”

“It could have been someone coming to visit his widow.” Alexander suggested. He understood that it was possible, but nonetheless, not every story of this nature is true.

“His neighbors confirmed it was him.”

“What of his wife?” Alexander asked. “What did she say?”

“His wife was found dead in her home after the man’s resurrection. Some think she died of fright, having seen her husband returned from the grave.”

“I imagine such an event would be quite terrifying.”

“Yes, but she was not elderly, nor diseased. She was healthy and young. It does not make sense for her to have died that way.” The woman said.

“Then the dead man killed his wife? For what purpose?” Alexander asked.

“Later, it was found that the woman had be unfaithful. Some think that the dead man’s spirit returned for revenge.”

“And this is why people avoid the mill?” Alexander asked.

“One of the reason, yes. But there have been more sightings of the dead near the mill.”

“Who else?”

“Soldiers.” She said. This caught Alexander’s attention.

“Please, tell me more.”

“This was around a month ago now. A group of solders from a neighboring kingdom sent an envoy of peace through our lands. They were accompanied by a small contingent of soldiers to protect them from bandits and thieves. However, a few of the soldiers got into a fight with some of our kingdom’s soldiers, and one of them died.”

“These soldiers, which kingdom were the from?” Alexander asked intensely, believing he had finally found a thread which might lead him to the men that killed his brothers.

“I believe the were from Eslow.” She said. Alexander’s shoulders slumped, that was not the country that the men who attacked him were from.

“I see, and which of them came back?”

“It was the man who started the fight. He was a member of our city’s guard. He died when one of the Eslow soldiers shoved him, and he fell backwards, hitting his head on a wagon wheel.”

“And he returned, like the other man?”

“Yes. He returned a day later, and cut the throat of the man who killed him.”

“I see. But how does this relate to the mill?” Alexander wondered confused.

“Later, the man was seen at the mill by former guards who had worked alongside him. Those who saw him fled, and the people have avoided the mill since then.” Alexander thought about these stories for a moment, and about what they meant. He thanked the woman, and left.

Two men then. Alexander thought to himself as he sat in the grass near the market. I had assumed it was only one. He thought back to his conversation with Warden, when he had told him about the mill originally. He was blinded by his rage then, and disregarded the Warden’s help. Foolish. I should have collected more information, come up with a plan, then attacked. He berated himself. Once his self-loathing was over, he swallowed his pride, and asked for help.

“Warden…”