Day Five - Morning

    Casper wakes with the sun. A few of yesterday's pains linger on, but, otherwise, he feels like a new person. He'll need his strength. There’s a long day ahead of him and a longer to-do list. There's no time to waste. The sun’s up only for so long. He gets out of bed and puts on his shoes. He’s prepared for what today brings.

     The first item on Casper's list is breakfast. To that end, he pops into the kitchen. The pheasant leg is untouched on the table. He devours it, then tosses the bones and scraps out the side door and the plate into the wash basin on the counter. He revels in the sense of accomplishment. One item down, god knows how many to go. And that’s not counting whatever burdens Balor has in mind for him.

     Speaking of Balor, where is he? Casper expected him to have materialized by now. In spite of the long minutes spent mulling about the kitchen, the man still fails to show himself. Casper is bored of loitering. He gives up on waiting for Balor and his commands, opting instead to get a head start on his own tasks.

Day Four - Evening

     The boy spends the better part of an hour lost in thought. He gets frustrated, then bored, eventually settling in front of his favourite window. Through it, he watches the drizzle stop. He watches the clouds clear. He watches the shadows grow. He carves another notch on the sill with his silver spoon, then ponders when it became his spoon instead of just a spoon.

     The thought is immediately dismissed. He's a thief for crying out loud. If he's gotten away with stealing something for so long, it becomes his something. That means the spoon belongs to him and nobody can persuade him otherwise.

     In summary, the boy is tired of milling about his room with nothing to do. And that is why he, despite all else that’s happened, decides to go exploring.

Announcement #1

     Firstly and fore mostly, I owe you, dear readers, an apology. I once said that I would update every Friday, give or take two days. Said promise is also on record, so it's not as if I can deny liability here. Not that I intend to. The fact of the matter is that I haven't delivered on that promise of mine. For that, I am most truly and humbly sorry, mea culpa and all that.

     Now for the good news: starting this day forward, I intend to stick to the schedule I promised so long ago. More good news: I'll give some notification before hand about whether or not I'll be skipping an update day (not that I plan to, mind you, I'm just hedging my bets here). Any notifications on the story status and my concerns on this side of the fourth wall will be communicated via Announcements, like the one you are currently reading. I've organized a master post for all admin stuff so far and it will include all Announcements going forward.

     I appreciate your patience so far and, again, I'm quite sorry for not being up to standard lately.

     I hope you continue to enjoy what I've written so far and what I will post in the near future.

     Sincerely,
              - The Author.

     P.S. Shit. I can't believe I forgot to mention this the first time I posted this blasted thing. I'm going to start go give a good overhaul to all story posts so far, stylistically that is. The actual content won't deviate too much, if at all; I'm just gonna fix up some (read "A LOT") of wording and phrasing stuff that's been bothering people consistently. Plus, it'll be good practice for getting back into the swing of things.

     It's nice to be back. :)

Public Announcement Bulletin

     This is the "master post" for any and all materials on this blog, website thing that are neither story pieces nor illustrations. Basically, what ya got here is a big ol' directory for all the finicky admin bits.

     This also means that there will be admin bits to keep track of going forward. Not that you have read them if to if you don't want to; this thing is more for my own organizational habits than it is for being useful.

Day Four - Afternoon

     “I presume we shall have no need of… ‘training’, as Myr put it,” the foreigner says once they're out of earshot. His grip loosens considerably when they arrive downstairs. The hold is still there, but it’s one good yank from being broken. The boy hates the contact. He wrenches himself free the moment he has the opportunity to do so, that is, immediately.

     “No shit.” He scowls at the foreigner and rubs at the sore spot on his arm where the man held him. It's sore. Wouldn't surprise him if there's another bruise.

     The foreigner watches the boy. The pensive look is back. “I apologize for treating you roughly, but-”

     “If you're gonna apologize for somefink, then don't do it in the first place!” The boy got the advice from an older boy in the workhouse. The saying stuck and has served him well since, but it’s not meant to help as he says it now. It’s meant to mock, to hurt.

     The foreigner sighs. “As I was saying, it is in your best interest to not provoke Myr at all costs.”

     “As I was sayin’, no shit.”

     “Language. And, I assure you, Myr is no laughing matter.”

     “Do I look like I'm havin’ a giggle?” The way the foreigner's talking, you'd think he's the one who got strangled by Myr. “I think I got a handle on what Myr can do.”

     “Whatever it is you believe Myr to be capable of, you are sorely mistaken.” The foreigner's voice dips from a tired drone into a growl. The intensity matches yesterday's storm. It makes every hairs on the boy's head stand on end. “Regardless of what lows you think Myr won’t stoop to, you underestimate him by ten score and ten score again if he be in a foul temper.” The foreigner growls deeper and deeper. The words hover just within audibility. The boy feels them more than he hears them. “Do not underestimate Myr. There stands my advice to you. Follow it, and you may yet avoid the worst of fates.”