From A Husk Of A Man

A man brought down the bag filled with meat back to his humble home with a tired smile, he looked over at his wife and two kids who had been waiting for him all day.

"William!" Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at him.

"My love," William raised up the bag. "I bought some goat meat from the butcher, what do you say if we cook a nice meal today?"

"Papa, the man hasn't come out!" Rachel and Anthony both rushed out to hug him in the legs.

"He was also asking strange questions!" Rachel added to her father.

William was aware that his wife did not like the fact that he brought a complete stranger—especially someone who did not seem like right in the head, back to their place.

However, he managed to talk her into letting the man stay for a day or so and then helping him find his way.

William liked to think that his wife loved him for being kind and thoughtful... or what she sometimes called as a crybaby.

Regardless, he bent down to his kids and rubbed their heads. "Were the two of you polite and tried to help him?"

"Of course!" Anthony proudly puffed up his chest. "I know all about the Golden Order—I'm going to be a Paladin when I grow up!"

"Paladins are not that great compared to a Cleric, or a Healer," Rachel said.

"Says you—you just don't know how to fight." Anthony stuck out a tongue.

"I made sure that he didn't do anything to the kids," Elizabeth hissed into his ear as she grabbed the bag. "I will prepare dinner, but do not think of letting him stay here for another night, William. I could barely sleep last night!"

"Understood, understood." William sighed.

He could understand his wife's concern—he knew how sometimes inviting a person into your abode would create a disaster. However, somehow, he trusted his instincts that Walter was a good person who needed help.

"I'll go talk to him right now. Thank you, love."

"Ew! Don't kiss in front of us!" Anthony stepped away from his parents.

William affectionately rubbed the head of his son before he knocked at the room that his children gave up for the stranger.

"Excuse me? I'm coming in."

When he entered the room, he came across Walter seated on the floor and in front of the table of his kids with pieces of paper on them along with some ink—he was much cleaner now.

William actually put his foot down and helped the man get some shoes, clean the groot out of his nails and gave him one of his spare clothes.

The man was so frail and thin that William was actually afraid that it was too big on him.

"How are you feeling?" William asked.

He got no response, but that was okay.

The man wasn't deaf, but it seemed that he had selective hearing.

Walter stared down at Anthony's sketches of the Paladin Order, including of him in the group—the famed order had rid their kingdom of numerous scourges of the earth.

—-

After what seemed to have been an incredibly long time, Walter experienced what it was like to be taken into the residence of someone else.

The orders of his Master were still in his mind: Golden Order and General News.

It was the only conscious part of him, everything else functioned as to fulfill the biddings of Master.

A part of him knew that following the human William would give him that, the man promised—and if he didn't... Well, Walter had a vague sense that it was probably good to dispose of him.

It wasn't explicitly stated, but it had happened before.

Memories of similar events took place in his mind until it receded back and disappeared back to wherever it came from.

Walter went along with all of the requests that William said and even met the man's offspring and mate—the mate didn't quite like him, but still chose out some clothes for him to change in.

The offspring of the human seemed reluctant and even wary at first, but they had also given up their dwellings for him.

This place was not Werf town where he was supposed to be.

It was a small village, and William, the human, acted in what Walter thought to be as a protector and defender... no, no, he had a goal, he needed to find answers for his master's question.

Ignore how they treated him. Ignore the warm bed and the stuffed object that depicted a tamed bear made of wool presented to him by one of the human's offspring to help him sleep.

Walter had slept for a long time, he didn't need to sleep again—he wanted and desired his Master's blood, to feel alive again.

The hours went by and the sun rose, which worried him, especially when the human William left, he heard the man leave for 'work' again and it left him with the man's offspring and mate. The mate seemed to hold onto a knife, an object that looked like she might plant it into his skull if he dared move.

He feared and obeyed no one but his Master, but... he also knew that if he showed signs that aroused suspicion, his Master's plans would be halted by William's mate.

Luckily for him, the two offspring, yes—the children Anthony and Rachel—no, the offspring came into the room along with their birth giver and helped him answer the questions he had.

Hours went by as Walter filtered through the outrageous stories presented by both offspring about what the Golden Order was and the dreams of the kids to be part of them—something Walter chose to remember just in case he could use their weakness now to be able to give an edge to his Master. There was still an order given back for what seemed centuries ago to investigate possible weaknesses of the Order to eliminate them.

And now, the human who took him—William had returned and disturbed Walter as studied the depictions of the offspring about the Golden Order.

The drawing was terrible, but the insights—yes, there could be insights there!

"How are you feeling?" William asked.

Walter paused at the strange question. Was it...was it necessary to answer that? Feeling? Would this help him serve his Master more?