Dannas and I had walked through the afternoon by the time we reached the river. We made our way to the beginning of the split, crossed it, then began to set up camp not far from the north side of it. Water began to trickle from the sky, so we stopped what we were doing, went further into the forest, and found shelter under a group of large trees. We ate and went to bed for the night. Fortunately, we didn't get too wet. Nobody took any watches. It took me a while to fall asleep because of my wound, but I eventually found the necessary modicum of comfort, and drifted off.
Like a blink, my eyes opened up to the orphanage bedroom. Under my bunk, I watched my friends die one by one in their brutal executions within the inferno. I blinked and was suddenly standing next to the big table in the mansion. The fire was building. I blinked again, and now suddenly I was in front of a guard, holding my blade in his throat. I blinked again, killing the next, then the next. Suddenly I was upstairs, killing more, and more. Before I knew it, my eyes were met with the image of Malkan's pulverized mush of a head. I looked at my clenched right fist to see it dripping with blood, and whatever else came from his head. It hurt. It burned. My whole body was burning, roasting. I watched my hand turn to char, I watched the char spread up my arms, across my whole body, before it started reaching my face. Just as my breath was releasing ash, and my eyes were beginning to go black, I woke up.
My breath calmed as I looked to my surroundings and realized where I was, and that it was just a dream. Since I was on my back, I naturally looked to the treetops. I saw an ethereal, deep blue, white-striped nightingale cock its head at me from a branch. After a series of fast pips, it flew off through an opening in the leaves to the dark, grey sky before disappearing into nothingness. Weird.
Dannas was slowly getting up. He yawned and stretched, small tears building in his eyes. I started grabbing my things and attaching my weapons. I sat by a tree until Dannas was ready to go. Once he was, we were off, heading northwest. Eventually, we made it to where I fought the shadow wolves, then it wasn't long until we made it to camp. Plenty of rangers were out and about, doing various things, completing various tasks. Some were leaving.
Dannas sighed a large sigh. "Thank the gods we're back. That one took ages. Oooh I wonder if there's any food."
"I need to see Yara." I walked off to the medical tent.
"Alright, I'm gonna get us some grub."
I dropped off my cloak, bow, and bed roll in my tent before going to medical. I peeked into her tent. She was fastening a wooden splint on a ranger's calf. I waited outside until she was done. Before long, the man walked out with a crutch, keeping his foot off the ground. I entered the tent.
Yara was wiping some sweat off her face with a rag. "Oh! Ladon, you're back!"
"Hello, Yara."
She looked at my eyes for a second. "How'd it go? You look tired."
"Long story."
"I can tell. Have you and Dannas reported to Captain Felror yet?"
"He's grabbing food. I'm here to have you check something first; I figured it shouldn't wait."
A contemplative look emerged on her brows. "Okay…"
"During the mission, I got stabbed in the back. Litterally. I got stichted up and everything; it was pretty bad. I just want you to check it, if you don't mind."
"Oh not at all. Did I not tell you to be careful?" She sighed. "Come on, sit on the table, take your shirt off."
I did just so. "I tried to be. Things just got . . . complicated."
"Mhm?" She started unwrapping me. "I've never seen this type of fabric for bandages before. It's clingier. Who wrapped you up?"
"I can't tell you."
"Oh really?"
I nodded.
"Alright then." The last of the bandaging was now off. "Well there's definitely a problem."
"What?"
"The stitchings were done terribly, they're loose, your skin is pulled incorrectly, and the wound isn't perfectly closed, though I assume it was worse."
"They did it right."
"Did you pull 'em?"
"Dannas and I ran into a Hildisvini sow on our way back."
"Yeah, that would just about do it. I'll have to fix it for you. It won't take long; won't be painless either."
"That's fine."
She started pulling them tight. "I'm gonna want to see this in a day or so if I can. Knowing you, I don't think it'll be long until these will need to be removed. Oh, and, try not to pull your stitches again; it only makes you need 'em longer."
I winced a bit from the pain. "Alright."
Once she was done, she quickly wiped up the area, then started rebandaging me. I didn't need as much coverage as before.
"How's the rest of your body feeling? It looks like it went through hell."
"It did. But I'm fine."
"Okay then." She finished wrapping me up. "Is that all?"
I put my shirt back on. "Yes."
"Alright then. Go eat some food before you report to Captain. And, please be more careful. Get some rest too."
"I will. Thank you, Yara."
"Anytime."
I left, heading to the mess tent. Dannas was sitting down with a bowl of honeyed oats, field peas, seared fish, and an extra one to his left. I sat there and started eating. Once we were done, we walked to the captain's tent. From outside I could hear Vice-captain Soras and the captain's voices.
Soras's voice spoke first. "According to our scouts, Darin's squad saw Gerickst attack a village several miles northwest of Moltenbell. Before that, another town northwest of that. It may not be long before he hits this area. We should either leave soon, or prepare to help them."
"I'm not willing to lose any of my rangers fighting a dragon. But when he comes, we'll give support in the aftermath. Our return to Heurithkə may be delayed by quite a while if he hits both towns. I hope Dannas and Ladon aren't going to get caught up in a dragon attack. It's been more than a week."
"Me too,"
Dannas, much less cautious than me, entered the tent first. "Hope we're not interrupting!"
"Oh, Dannas, Ladon. This is perfect timing," Soras responded.
"Yeah, I tend to do that."
"We were waiting outside the tent, for a good opportunity to enter."
The captain cracked a small smile. "Welcome back, boys. Well, what's your report then? I take it everything went well." She held eye contact with me before a knowing realization reached her.
I nodded. I noticed on the table to my left was a set of male form-fitting leather cuirass, bracers, and greaves on the table to the left.
Dannas answered. "Well first we headed off to Ladon's home, to avoid the deadwood like you said. I met Abraxas, damn near shat my pants, then we ate. When we were done there, we left for . . ."
"Therrin's End," I added.
"Yeah, Therrin's End. We met Brian."
"Councilor Bryant."
"Whatever, he showed us the wagon we'd be pushing. We met Tulas who was gonna be with us, then we left. After a couple days' travel, we got ambushed by some townspeople from . . . Moltenbell, except we didn't know they were from there at first. Ladon tried to diffuse, but it didn't work, so he wound up fighting them. He easily took 'em out with the blunt side of his sword. Oh, and I got one too. We left 'em on the side of the road.
That night, one of them, her name is Meg, came to us scared out of her mind. Her group disappeared in the forest. Ladon went to help, and turns out, they went into the deadwood, and ate the fruit there. Tulas and I waited for an hour before we followed after. We can't tell you the rest of what happened there."
"Elves," the captain answered.
"Nevermind then. Yeah, so as it turns out, that's a huge crime to the elves, so they got kidnapped, and left as bait for Meg to catch up. Ladon and Meg unkidnapped them before getting ambushed by the elves. In order to save the lives of Meg and her group, Ladon had to do a trial by combat. He fought Tarnwyn."
"Tarwyn."
"Yeah, him. Anyway, Ladon won, and somehow befriended him and his sister, so she healed him and gave him a cool tattoo."
I showed them my palm.
"Fascinating. You have the mark," commented Soras.
"Yup. After that, we continued traveling to Moltenbell with Meg and her group. They became our friends. They told us the reason why the town's shit is because the mayor hoardes everything, so the assistance Therrin's End had been giving them had just been going to him and his guard this whole time. Ladon wound up having to fight four guards to ensure the wagon's stuff would go to the people. One of them was really tough and skilled. Her name was… Din… nuh."
"Gin-me."
"Yeah, that. Ladon won again, though he got beat up pretty bad. We distributed everything, then hung out with Meg and her group for a few days. During that time, Ladon befriended Gin-me at some point, then did some secret stuff he should talk about instead."
The captain rested her elbows on her desk, holding her hands together. "Alright, tell us then, Ladon."
"Right. I heard rumors that the mayor had a demidragon held captive in his mansion, and that's why Gerickst hasn't hit the town in ten years. Gin-me warned me I'd be a wanted man. I asked her to investigate, to see if the rumours were true. She couldn't confirm a demidragon, but could confirm the high likelihood. There was a rebellion forming to take out the mayor, so I found and joined them a day before they were going to hit the mansion." My voice shook somewhat. "We got ambushed in the mansion, and after I killed twelve guards and got stabbed in the back, I made it to the room, on the top floor, that she was in. The rumors were right. She was terribly weak, malnourished, beaten, et cetera. I . . . went into a rage, fought his right hand man and captain of the town's guard. He was bigger than you, Soras. I killed him, brutally. I regained my senses and unlocked the girl's chains. The entire mansion was burning, and the floor gave way under my feet. I protected her from hitting each floor we fell through until the bottom. The mayor fell too, and tried to kill her while I was trapped under rubble. Gin-me saved her, and me. She also killed him. We escaped the building together, before I ran to Dannas and Tulas, who had a headstart on the journey back. I passed out from the pain and bloodloss. I was in critical condition, but she was still worse off. I woke up two days later in the elven city. They patched me up, and are currently taking care of the girl."
"We spent some time there. I'll be heading back there in a day or so, to continue to be with her, until she recovers. After we left, we brought Gin-me back to Moltenbell, then brought the wagon back to Therrin's End. They gave both me and Dannas these brooches." I showed mine off. "After that we started heading here. We ran into a Hildisvini sow along the way. We managed to get it to leave, and a day after, well here we are."
"Mmm. Well, That was certainly a lot more than we expected," the captain said.
"I'll say," remarked Soras.
The captain stood up. "What's your evaluation of Ladon, Dannas?"
"He handled himself very well in all of the fights I saw. I mean, he beat an elf prince, thing, guy. He did a lot of good, showed plenty of restraint with Meg and her group when they first attacked us. His efforts got the town the goods they needed. He rescued a demidragon, and liberated a town in one night. He handled the Hildsivini boar better than I did to be honest. His leadership, judgement, and capabilities are all really good if you ask me. I think he did above and beyond."
The captain leaned against her desk. "I see."
Soras outreached his hands. "Ladon, give me your blade."
I unattached my scabbarded messer, approached him, and handed it over.
He pulled the messer out of its scabbard and examined it. "It's been damaged a bit. Probably from your rage. I can tell you tried to mitigate it by the fact that it's less damaged than the last." He rescabbared it. "Try not to ruin your new one."
"My what?
The captain grabbed the cuirass, walked up to me. "As of today, Ladon, you are hereby named a member of the Midnight Rangers. Should you choose to stay with Abraxas when we depart, you will always have a second home at Heurithkə." She handed me the cuirass.
I took it. "Thank you." I took a second to look at it. It had the symbol of the Midnight Rangers pressed on the center of its chest.
"You'll find it a little big on you." Soras added. "Don't worry; it can be tightened,"
"Well put it on!" Dannas yelled excitedly.
I lifted it over my head and put it on like a shirt. It was pretty much as Soras said. There were some straps on the shoulders and sides I used to tighten it more. It fit well. My torso was the only area that couldn't fully change to scales yet, so to have armor there was nice. The shoulders had two small hooks, their points round and dull, curved at my neck."
"The hooks are for if you want to keep your cloak in the back," Dannas said.
I looked down at myself, staring at the armor. "This is nice. A little unbelievable."
The captain crossed her arms with a proud gaze. "Good. Today, you're going to go to the smithy. Think of a design for your sword, draw it, or if you can't, tell it to the rangers that will forge it. They'll be able to draw your idea to confirm it. When it's done, and ready to be presented, we will celebrate you as a new member of my squad."
"O-okay." I already knew what I wanted.
"Well go then." Soras smiled slightly.
"Yeah let's go!" Dannas grabbed my arm, then almost fell trying to pull me. "Come on!"
He pulled once more, and I let him this time. We rushed out of the tent past Soras's and Enrick's, then we made it to the forging area. A number of rangers were working there, most lightly dressed, likely because of the heat. One was at a table with several parchments, drawing with a piece of charcoal. When Dannas and I got close enough, he placed his charcoal down and turned to us.
"I take it you're the new kid?" He looked tired.
"Yes."
"Well, go on, tell me about it. I'll reel you in if your ideas are too crazy. I'm Yanus by the way."
"Ladon."
"Alright. Tell me what you want. I'll draw it."
"It's hopefully not too complicated. My idea was similar to the temporary swords. I like the taper, and the curve. I want the blade to be a bit longer."
He started drawing quickly. "How much longer?"
"Halfway in between langes and kriegs."
"Are you alright with the handle being a bit longer?"
"Yes."
"Good. What about the guard?"
"Same idea; curved angles rather than harsh."
"Okay. Anything else?"
"Is there a way to get words on it?"
"Like an engraving?" He was still drawing.
"Yes."
"Yeah, we can do that."
"Can you engrave, "Last Resort", on both sides, close to the guard?"
"Mmm." He still never looked away from his drawing. "Is that all?"
"Yes."
He lightly slammed the charcoal to the side of the parchment with his blackened hand just before stepping away.
"Does that look like what you want?"
I looked at the parchment. It had both sides of a design that was exactly what I envisioned. "This is good. How long will it be until it's done?"
"Maybe a week. Maybe longer. It'll be done when it's done."
"Alright then. Thank you, Yanus."
"Yeah, alright. Get out of my hair."
I nodded, turned back to Dannas, and walked away.