Massively Exclusive: RuneScape excerpt, page 4

"What has happened here?" Theodore asked. These were Imperial Guards, men who viewed the knights as a rival military force in Asgarnia. He ignored their hostile gazes as his eyes swept over them hastily, and then moved onto the caravan. That was when he realised that the red tint hadn't been the gay colors of a gypsy's pride, but rather a spray of blood.

The guards noted his sudden comprehension, and one of the older men spoke. "A savage attack on a gypsy peddler and his family. There is a body inside, mauled by a beast, and the body of a woman lies in the woods. Their child's clothing has been found..." The guard removed his helm as he spoke, as if he needed a diversion to gather himself before continuing. "... bloodied. There is no sign of its body."

Theodore entered the wagon, and felt his gorge rise. He had seen death before-from accidents in the lists to the violence he had encountered while accompanying a knight in his role of squire-but he had never seen such carnage. The beast had forced itself in through the slim wooden door at the back of the wagon, and even the killings had not satisfied its rage, for the wooden walls and cupboards had been ripped and household objects overturned as if the very idea of a home had been offensive to it.

"We think the woman ran into the woods with the child..." A younger man began to speak, but his commander interrupted him.

"What are your intentions here, squire?" he demanded. "Will you join us in the hunt and slow us down, or will you go on your way?"

"My interest here is the same as your own-to see that justice is done. However, I am needed urgently in Taverley, and will gladly take any message to the authorities there.

"I will not put politics above justice," he added firmly.

"Nor will I," the man responded. "You can take a message to Taverley. That would be a useful service to us, for we need men who know the local lands if we are to start a hunt."

The guard moved to one side and wrote briefly on a parchment, which he then rolled and handed to Theodore, telling him who to give it to.

As the squire pulled on his reins, ready to depart, a sudden thought occurred to him.
"Is this related to the events in the south?" he called, making the guard turn.

"What events?"

"Another murder, a week or so ago. I met some travellers on the road yesterday who told me of a woman who had been slain.

From his description it seems as if it might be the same creature."

The guard bowed his head, his face darkened by the news.

"Thank you, squire-that is useful news, indeed. I am glad you chose to share it, despite the differences of our politics."

Theodore returned the bow, knowing that he had done the right thing.