Funeral Rights (open)

[Burt]

It was a cold Sunday. Burt was not sure if it was because of the occasion, or because of the weather. He had lost track of what season it was weeks ago and was just simply waiting for it to snow. Around the grave was a good group of people. Many of them were..., how does one put it... unsavory sort, and others were good old village folk. Burt was not sure if the people were here for his dead brother, or for his weeping sister. From what he heard of his brother he could guess the later. Then again it would explain the unsavory sorts.

"Burt since you are the eldest you should say something", spoke an older man as he looked at the cloaked fighter. He was one of the few people still left in the village that remembered him from his youth. In truth though it was a bit strange that they asked him to say something. Burt had never even meet his little brother. The more fitting person would be their younger sister Yashi, but the orange hair maiden seemed to be in a depressed stupor. Her eyes were practically plank and she was starting to thin. Burt had heard she was having a hard time coming to terms with her brother's death, but he did not think it was this bad.

"Well", spoke Burt as he cleared his throat. "He lived like his grandfather", spoke Burt. In truth he had no idea what he was saying. He just spoke what came to mind and hoped it came out right. "He entered the world as a man, and fought like one. He spilled blood for many causes. On one hand he killed for freedom, and the other he spilled for greed. However history shall remember him he will always be the same to us. Butorega the orange, a name worthy of caring in our hearts. May his axe be always sharp and his arm strong." With those words Burt walked back into the crowd. It seemed he had a decent reaction. It was not a soaring speech, nor was it a complete let down. Still it was the final and only words he ever spoke towards his little brother.

"I am about to go lye down", spoke Yashi as she walked away from the grave stone. The other talked, but only amongst their group. The unsavory characters were avoided by the villagers and the unsavory avoided the villagers. Everyone began to disperse.

[Burt]

"Hey you there. You the brother", spoke a voice behind Burt. The fighter turned around too see a few of the unsavory types. A hunger could be seen in their eyes, but not that for food or drink. It was blood they were after. They didn't even have to tell Burt. He could smell the bandit on them. He began to wonder how his younger brother could have hung out with sorts like this, but still have people come from small villages claiming he aided them in their time of need. He guessed the man must have been a complicated character.

"Let me go ahead and stop you gentlemen", spoke Burt.

"Hey", spoke a woman who was among the group of unsavories.

"And Ladies", added Burt as he raised his hands in defense. "I have no intentions of avenging my brother. I understand he was killed and that it was in a .... messy way, but I will not be a tool of vengeance. YOu are just going to have to let his death go."

"Vengeance", spoke one of the men as he began to chuckle. The woman jumped in to finish his sentence. "We are not here to talk to you about your brothers death. That is over and done with. He would not want blood for his death to begin with."

"Oh well then", spoke Burt a bit surprised. He was sure that was what they were after.

"We are here about his blood price", spoke the man next to the woman.

"Blood price", spoke Burt with a serious look. It did not take a genius to understand what this was about.

"Yes his blood price", spoke the first man as he moved his hand onto his axe. Burt axe was still slung over his should and would prove faster to swing than the man's would. Considering this fact Burt could only conclude that he touched his weapon as a sign of intimidation. In retaliation the fighter regriped the shaft of his iron battle axe. His eyes stared into the mans.

"Two lives for one", spoke the woman breaking the eye contact that the first man and Burt had. "Your brother left the group, but he did not do so in our good graces."

The other man timed in. "The blood debt needs to be paid", spoke the man.

The first moved in and began to speak once more. "The debt falls to you two. If you do not pay it then I we will be forced to take your heads."

"Really", spoke Burt. He was not one to back down from a challenge. Thought this situation seemed quite puzzling to him. These bandits were obviously close enough to his brother to know where he lived. it is obviously that they should have talked to Yashi about this, but instead they are coming to him. "Well considering that Yashi is still living and the fact that you obviously knew where this place was by your presence I can only assume that there is something keeping you all from trying to collect your blood price from Yashi."

As the words left Burt mouth a strange expression crossed the trio face. It seemed that he hit the nail on the head. They did not say anything, but it was obvious that they avoided speaking these words to Yashi, or that Yashi had some backup they did not want to get involved with.

"Well it looks like I have my answer", spoke Burt as he began to walk away. The trio stared for a moment before they began to disperse. It seemed Burts assumption was correct. He warmed his way out of whatever they wanted.

[end thread]