He is sure to die down there, yet he did not feel sorry. There was no pity or remorse, nobody would mourn the loss of such a man, nobody would weep for him, not even his own Son who thankfully was miles away as all these events took place. The poor boy, how he suffered under the hardship of this man with years of ill treatment and harsh words. Then he had to join ranks with the lowest of the low and try to have his own Son killed, and for what? Money? Titles? This brought back bad memories for Rick, he'd be damned if the same hurt befell the innocent boy. When he comes back from his trip, he'll be free and can live how he wanted. It takes more than blood to be a Father, Frankburn was no Father.
It was oddly relieving to allow himself in those minutes he was down in that damp, rotten cellar, to indulge in the taunting and mockery of the bound up man, surrounded by his own filth and misery. He had to be smart though, there was more things important than venting his own anger towards the man. Milisent had to be found and the safety of his family was paramount. Though it had to be said, his new associate had done a good job getting Frankburn here, he kept his word and he shall be forever thankful to him and his lady love.
Was he wrong for doing this? Of course he felt regret for the actions. But the law here was pointless and corrupt. He knew this from Nessya's time working with them. Sellswords? No. Nor had his Rohan friends arrived yet. The less people involved in this the better. It was for the best. In the end, it was for the boy. He could not feel guilty for that.
As Rick took off the tight blindfold from Frankburn's eyes, the man sputtered with a parched throat, "Who-Wha...You?! You did this?!"
Rick smirked as Nessya stood in the shadows out of sight. She did not have to come but she did, she was a brave woman. She would stand with him through anything.
Frankburn spoke of course, it was easy. Men like him value things above all else, coin and riches, women and a corrupt life. Rick offered him this, Gold, transportation to a new land with all he could want. It did not take much for the idiot to believe him and tell him all he wanted to know. If he told him, Rick would let him go.
Of course he didn't, he was not that stupid or kind (not when it came to this man). When he had all the information he needed, he turned towards Nessya to leave. A still bound Frankburn screamed after him with a rolling tide of cusswords and threats, but Rick smirked on. Frankburn struggled in his binds, "Wa..Wait! Let me go! You promised!!" and so Rick turned to him "I did. But as Ness here often tells me, I am a terrible liar. You will stay here. There is someone else who wants you....They'll come tomorrow."
A note was sent to those two who helped in the capture of Frankburn. Both of them had their own needs for the man and both of them were tangled up in the plot, Rick owed them greatly. The blonde woman the most, for she had put herself in harms way to get Rick what information he had before now. So long as he was ignorant to what occurred the next day. His lips were sealed.
That was the last time any of the family would see this man. His part of the story was done. There was now another man to deal with. Guthford Wolfcaelder.
