Thud. The knight sat up pushing the creature's head off their legs, They walk over to the man's body who sat patiently for them by the entrance, they hoist them onto their back before walking over to a opening far on the other side of the large den littered with piles of pasture, manure, and bones.
As they pass through to the other end, they stop finding shovels, rakes, pitchforks racked on the wall, and wooden troughs set on the floor. Next to a trough, there's a large, long knotted rope, and a worn old ball with stuffing puffing out from a few of its seams.
SSSsssss. A mist burst forth from the weapon in their hands as they clip it to their side. Once again, it's just a bone. The knight carries on past the arrangement through a door leading into the halls of the keep once more, they shrunk back to a smaller stature just beyond the door.
As they walk, another statue appears, the child from before with beautiful eyes and the wolf with the horns of a ram. The child, carved laughing and smiling as it nestled the belly of the playful rolled over beast. The knight tilts their head as they look up at it, pausing for a moment before turning back to look down the hall. They look forward once more and press on.
As they walked, the air began to thin as the warmth of the halls faded along with the stench the further and further they traveled from the beast's den.
Tap, Tap, Tap swish. Their footsteps now echo through the halls alongside the rustling of their bags, and the keep, now plagued with a quiet. The statues in the halls began to fade as the halls strank back to what they once were, narrowing ever more. The specks of dust and debris began to fade. The hallways here showed a polish to them. Soon, they split off into diverging paths, turning corners, and leading to stairwells. There's one in particular, one the short knight would climb carrying the weight of the man's corpse on their shoulders. The walls began to change, decorated with lanterns as opposed to the sconces and candles of the lower floor.
Soon, doors began to appear in arches of the walls, leading to many rooms.
Sniff Sniff. The little one's nose twitches as a wave of aromas washes over them, emanating from the undercuts of the doors. Some have a strong smell, sweet and floral, others of mint and lemon, some with faint undertones of bitter ash, and one in particular of a dry, soft sweetness.
Creeegk. They open the door to one of the first rooms, warmth greets them as they enter, they slowly sit the man down by the door on the other side.
Creek, creag… Inside a creaky, porous wooden floor littered with dirt and dust, on the far opposite side of the room, bright daylight shined through a large glass window, spotless, devoid of scrapes or nicks.
All around the knight were beautiful plants, some with vines bearing vibrant red berries with a clear sheen, others were bushy shrubs, even fewer were spiky, firm, sticky ferns, and many fresh, nippy herbs. Decorating some of their branches, blooming coral pink flowers.
Many of the plants were potted and scattered about the room irregularly, yet formed a path to walk about, while others hung from the ceiling.
Pip. The short knight picks a berry, rolling it around in their fingertips.
Tap reegk, tuk creeeak. They pick up the man's corpse, carrying him in their arms out the door, shutting it behind them.
Creeegk. They open the door to a room further down the hall, a chill pricks their skin as they enter the dark, dim room.
Sniff. The fragrance of spices and a light burning sensation fill their nostrils.
Pap. The man's corpse is gently placed by the door inside. Crates, barrels, shelves, stacked, standing, and organized around the room. Resting on one of the shelves, several berries, drupes, nuts, and citrus fruits. On another shelf, sourdoughs, lumpy loafs, and flat leavened bread, and on one shelf, orange, white, and light creamy yellow cheeses.
Thump. In one of the barrels, earthy, dirty potatoes, rough-rooted vegetables, and fresh, pungent onions. The little knight reaches into the tall one's bag, pulling out a rod of metal curved at one end with a hook.
Crrreeeegk-CRACK. Inside the crate, many bottles of deep red wines.
Tap-Clatter. The little knight grabs a bottle, stuffing it in the man's bag before walking to the door.
They stop, standing still for a moment, turning back to the crate.
Clatter, tap. They grab two more bottles before lifting the man and heading out the door, taking the man's corpse with them.
Now then, the last room.
Sniff Sniff. The scent of bitter hot ash and smoke, and the undertone of a delicate, dry, sweet softness grew ever stronger as they approached. Something about this room was different. Strange, a soothing warmth emanated from it before they had even entered. As they approached. A light shined from the undercut of the doorway.
Ting, twing, ding. A faint, meek, mellow rhythmic chiming came from the room just beyond the door,
Creeeegk. The little knight opens the door.