DAYS UNTIL WAVE: 64
Tyler opened his eyes to find kaori's face just above his own. HE smiled, and kissed her in her sleep. She opened her eyes with a snap to find him kissing her awake, and finding she loved it. He let her go and she smiled as she brushed her blonde hair out of her face.
"Good morning, Tyler."
She was whispering as both Wulf and Malico were sound asleep. He kissed her softly again.
"Good morning Kaori."
She had a slight blush, as she was naked on top of him, and he was shirtless, but that didn't stop her from feeling a bulge below his belt pressed against her leg. She rubbed his face as he stroked her back.
"We should get breakfast going."
He smiled.
"Sure. Gotta say though, I like this morning view."
She blushed a little.
"So do I."
The duo got up and snuck out with all the stealth of a ghost. Then Tyler got the fire relit as kaori laid out food. The Bear was on her side near the tent and was still sleeping soundly as the flames popped and took again. Once Tyler had the fire going nicely he joined kaori with breakfast prep. He hugged the still naked blonde from behind as she ground up meat into strips of bacon and readied some blackberries. She smiled as she felt him wrap her in his arms and press his head into her hair.
"Almost feels like we a couple, don't it?"
HE smiled and kissed her hair.
"We ARE a couple, Kaori."
She shivered.
"Probably not a good idea to do that when I'm using a knife."
he smiled and went to stand beside her to take the first set of strips to fry. As the smell of cooking meat wafted up, Wulf came out yawning. Tyler smirked at the elf.
"Looks like you slept well."
He chuckled.
"I did indeed. Not every night in the wilds One can sleep so peacefully."
Tyler chuckled as well.
"Well, when we have a fifteen hundred pound grizzly sleeping outside our tent, yeah, easy to relax."
kaori tilted her head as she looked at the beast.
"I'd say she's more Kodiak brown bear."
"You're the expert. Grizzly sounds better though right?"
She smiled.
"That we agree on."
They chuckled as the first set of bacon strips was ready. Wulf walked to a more secluded part of the camp before sitting with his legs crossed under him with his hands in a sign, facing the rising sun. Tyler and Kaori watched him curiously, as he began speaking in a different language that their Warrior HUD didn't translate for them. Tyler immediately understood what it was, and gestured to kaori. She watched him cross himself and nod to Wulf. Must be a morning prayer for his religion. They nodded and worked in silence as the elf completed his morning rite. He pressed his forehead to the ground before rising to aid in camp work. The elf was bare chested like Tyler, and Tyler noted that his wiry frame was more muscular then his own, and for some reason it irked him, even if he knew he was the stronger. Tyler let it go and went back to keeping the bacon from burning. Wulf was chopping a few more logs when he happened to glance over to Tyler and saw his back. He gave a loud gasp of shock that got both Tyler and Kaori's attention. They looed at him,
"Wulf, something wrong?"
"You okay?"
Wulf just looked at Tyler's back.
"Tyler, what happened to you?"
Tyler tilted his head, confused. Then Kaori sighed.
"Your scars dingdong."
"Ah."
HE stood and faced the shocked elf, and he saw both the large lines left by Lisk claws slicing through another myriad of lines. Tyler smiled.
"My family didn't like me much, and my classmates helped."
Wulf felt an immense pity for this poor soul to have grown up with such an evil family.
"I'm so sorry you lived like that. Did they come here as well?"
Tyler sighed.
"Indeed they did."
Wulf groaned.
"Such monsters with Warrior powers."
Tyler smiled darkly.
"Don't worry. Knowing them, they probably got killed a while ago. My mother's like a third the size of that bear, my sister is the size of her back leg and my stepfather's a pencil. Yeah, they're either dead or locked in a room getting hammered."
Wulf sighed.
"You could have a healer remove them, if you like."
"I like them. Makes a hell of an impression, and it shows I can't be broken. Plus ya know, royal badass."
Tyler went back to getting the food ready as Wulf added logs to the fire. With a family like that, no WONDER he's so strong, and hates the crown.
Malico was last to appear as usual, and she splashed some water in her face to wake her properly. Then she went to aid kaori with food prep. Once ready, Tyler laid out the map again to go over everything again, much to Wulf's amazement.
"He's going over it again?"
Kaori chuckled as she chowed down on good crispy lisk bacon.
"He'll review the plan until it's actually time to do it. Sometimes he'll even have another idea altogether."
Wulf watched as Tyler would trace the route, point at a spot, and hover over it as he went into deep thought.
"That kid is more diligent than some imperial guards that escort the king on journeys! It's a little frightening."
The pretty blonde chuckled.
"he'll have memorized the route by the time we leave."
Tyler had finished his reexam of the map and was satisfied. All that was left was breaking camp and getting moving. The food was eaten, but there was a surprising amount of leftovers. The ladies were about to put away for the trail, but Tyler smiled.
"I got a better idea."
He took all the leftover bacon and berries and laid them beside the still sleeping bear. HE patted her head and she woke up to look at him.
"We're heading out Juniper. Take care."
The bear whined a little before eating the food. He sighed.
"I get it. We'll be back through here eventually. Since ya know, my favorite teddy lives here."
The bear got a hug as the camp was torn down. Then they readied the horses and waved goodbye to their bear friend.
"Bye Juniper! We'll be back sooner or later!"
"Take care! Nice meeting you!"
"Bye sis! Glad you doing okay!"
"Farewell lady Juniper!"
The bear reared on her hind legs and roared as her friends left. She then dropped down and curled up on the spot that had the strongest amount of Tyler's scent, and whined sadly as her friend left. She sighed as a soft hand patted her head.
"There, there, Juniper. He'll be back soon enough."
She looked up in the smiling face of Slyvien. The bear pressed her head into her mentor.
"He'll be back, if only to lay with ME!"
Tyler and his friends left the eastern part of the forest and set out onto a neatly path that wound it's way though small hills and grassland. Kaori beside him on the right, Malico on his left, and Wulf at the rear. Tyler had his bow covered so as to not draw unwanted attention from any elves they meet on the road, while oblivion and his as of yet unnamed broadsword was on his back. He had also donned the Mythril shirt under his own tunic because why not. The friends not in any hurry and more just enjoying the easy ride along the quiet road. Kaori was looking over a shaft he'd made from Lisk bone, teeth and flighted by King eagle.
"Wow, Tyler, this arrow is really strong."
He smiled as he looked at her.
"I figured it was a good idea since we piss through shafts like you wouldn't friggin believe."
The blonde slotted the arrow back into her quiver as a shadow passed overhead. They looked up to see an airship drifting along several hundred meters in the sky. Tyler smiled as he beheld the sleek craft. The balloons were blue, and so was the main hull. On the prow was a large skull of a creature that reminded Tyler of a larger Lisk, and he could make out cannons in her sides. The man chuckled.
"I REALLY wanna fly on one o those."
Wulf chuckled as the craft drifted by.
"They're pricey, but the experience is worth it."
Tyler watched as the craft headed along their route.
"That thing headed for Raylik?"
Wulf looked in it's direction.
"Mostly likely, headed in that direction. Raylik is a trade hub, so merchants always are coming and going."
Tyler smiled at that.
"They have a black market?"
Wulf looked at him.
"You're not thinking of selling that thing are you?"
"No. More backup plan in case the regular merchants refuse to buy our goods."
Wulf relaxed.
"They do. I know the man you'd want to see if you have to. He's an ass, but fair."
"Sounds like a good merchant."
That got a chuckle. The group rode along cracking jokes, chatting and just loving the ease of the open road. They crested a small hill and found themselves gazing upon the King's road. A highway the size of three tennis courts stretching into the distance made of packed dirt that reminded Tyler and kaori of a country back road. The group shrugged and kept on their way. Tyler had out a whetstone and was putting a new edge on his Sgian Dao, Malico was doing the same with her daggers, Kaori was brushing her blonde ponytail and Wulf was rubbing some kind of wax on his bow string. The companions perfectly at ease and relaxed with their surroundings. Tyler had was satisfied with his blade and had sheathed it as he noted a series of shadows moving along the sides of the road parallel to the group. He started whistling an old tune that Kaori picked right up on, and Malico and Wulf got the silent heads up. Then Tyler reached for another dagger and began sharpening it as well. Then a man staggered out on to the road and collapsed. The group stopped, and Tyler groaned inwardly. Seriously? THAT trick? He sighed as he called out to the fallen man.
"Hey, buddy, need some help or you dead?"
He heard a muffled snigger off to the right beside a tree. Tyler had a secret smile, as he knew the plan now. Then proned man lifted himself on an arm.
"H-help m-me...please! A snake!"
Tyler sighed.
"Look, let's just get this over with."
Tyler pretended to get off his horse, and the group of ten of so came out running with spears. The group blocked the road in front and behind, and the proned man cackled.
"Alright, hand over your coin and the ladies and ya don't get hurt."
Tyler and his friends all looked at each other, and laughed hard. Then Tyler looked at kaori.
"Well, Shadow, another point for you."
She smirked.
"That my new nickname?"
Tyler thought for a moment.
"Sure."
He was smiling as he flicked his wrist, and the dagger hit the man closet to him in then throat. The group moved like lightning as the surprised group struggled to recover. Tyler had Oblivion out and had ducked under a set of spears to stab the first man in the chest before dancing to the side ripping it out getting blood in the eyes of his friend. The man yelled before Tyler got him with a slash that left him headless. Tyler then jumped back as a set of thrusts came his way. HE stepped backward as he avoided the questing tips before grabbing the shafts as they crossed and snapping them like twigs. The men gaped as Tyler closed in a flash and left them all headless. In the span of 90 seconds, all the bandits were killed except for one. The man had been spared for interrogation. Tyler retrieved his dagger and began his questioning of the cowering man.
"This your whole crew?"
The man nodded.
"We're a small time crew. We barely get by-arrggh!"
Tyler had stabbed him in the knee. HE then slapped him in the face.
"Here, right here asshole, or I'll pop your gods damned knee off. Where's your camp?"
The man was now staring straight into Tyler's Demon Glare, and his nerve failed him.
"On my map! I'll give you the chant! Just don't kill me!"
"How many men?"
"Twenty."
"Gear?"
"Same as ours."
"Leader have a bounty?"
He gulped.
"Thirty gold alive. Forty dead. His names Valic."
"Identifying features?"
"Wields a large battleaxe like a toy, and stand 8 feet tall."
"Map and spell."
The man tore a chain from his neck, and passed him the scroll with a shaking hand. Tyler passed them to Wulf for inspection. The elf nodded.
"These are real."
Tyler looked back at the man and withdrew his knife from his knee, before hitting him in the head with the hilt. The man collapsed and Tyler threw him to the side of the road. Tyler sighed as he wiped his blade on a corpse. Kaori tapped his shoulder, and he looked to see she was a little pale.
"You hurt?"
She shook her head.
"Just a little worried by just how easily and ready to torture him you seemed to be. Never seemed the type."
Tyler smiled.
"I do what needs to be done Kaori. I CAN get my hands dirty so you don't have to."
Wulf sighed.
"I understand. I may not like it, but I do. Having someone that is ready and willing to stain their hands to do the work that the rest of us are simply incapable of doing is both a good thing, and a sad one as well."
Malico and Kaori sighed as well.
"He's right."
"We wouldn't have gotten what we needed otherwise."
Tyler smiled.
"And don't worry, I'll never turn my knife to you."
Kaori smiled ruefully.
"I kinda feel bad now."
He shrugged.
"Looting done?"
Wulf held up a small clinking pouch.
"thirty coppers that's it. Must be a slow day."
Tyler added the coins to the pouch under his vest.
"Or they just suck. That map ready?"
Would passed to him and Tyler sat in Thunder's saddle as he added it to his own. HE saw where the camp was and smiled.
"This is gonna be fun."
He handed the map down and the ladies and Elf looked at it.
"Did they seriously build a bandit camp on top of a hill?"
"Idiots."
"Well, the main concern is what kinda of defenses they have."
Tyler smiled.
"Don't really matter what kinda defenses they have. They built it beside a river, and if we attack from there, bang."
Wulf tilted his head.
"That's a rather ingenious plan."
The friends mounted up and swung their horses to ride towards the camp. They reached the river that led into the camp and hitched their horses loosely so they could be called for. Then the friends all drew their bows and set off along the riverbank. Tyler had a single shaft ready, as he was going to do some sniping to keep the idiots off balance. They sighted the camp not too long after, and the instant he saw it, Tyler just sighed.
"Fucking idiots."
There was a set of maybe ten tents without so much as a mound for a lookout. Even from that distance, they could hear the sounds of a wild party underway. There were screams, both of pain and joy, laughter and the occasional clash of steel. The friends readied extra shafts on their strings and just walked right up to the camp. Tyler went first and sighted a man with a staff beside him. He fired all four shafts on his string into the man's chest and readied his next shot. Kaori and Malico fired as well and got four between them as Wulf fired and got two. Tyler spotted another man with a staff and hit him in the throat. That was when the camp realized they were under attack. But by then, it was too late. Tyler sighed as he pulled his broadsword.
"Tch, barely a workout."
Kaori had her katana in her hands.
"I agree."
Malico had her green blades twirling.
"I guess they're just a bunch of idiots."
Wulf shook his head as he held his leaf bladed sword up.
"Let's get this over with."
Tyler surged forward and the first four men tried to block with wooden shields, but they were still cut down as Tyler's Magicite broadsword was built for just tasks. That left eight men standing of the original twenty. Tyler watched his friends mop up as a mountain of a man came out of a tent near the back of the camp. Tyler leaned on his blade as he looked at him.
"You Valic?"
The man hefted an axe the size of kaori.
"Guess so."
The man swung the gigantic axe in Tyler direction, only for him to duck underneath and cut him clean in half. He fell with a heavy clang as the axe bounced. Tyler sighed.
"Alright, Loot the camp. Wulf, question."
The elven ranger was wiping his blade clean.
"What?"
"To collect a bounty on a dead, do I bring the body or will just the head cut it?"
Wulf chuckled.
"The head will suffice. But take that axe as well. Might prove the point."
Tyler severed the man's head and stuffed it into a sack. The looting of the camp took less then an hour. They scored a set of black spells that were to be sold, a few red spells for kaori, a green spell for Malico, 5 gold coins, 50 silver, and 100 copper. A few potions and a pair of staffs. Tyler sighed as he carried the head in a sack back to his horse with the axe.
"That was kinda boring."
The others were in agreement as he tied the axe to Thunder's side with a wrapping to keep it from cutting him.
"Yeah, idiots had no clue what the fuck just happened."
"I guess this crew were more about play then work."
"Odd how we didn't find any women."
Tyler smirked.
"Oh, there were women alright, I found one guy inside one as I killed them. Problem was both dudes."
Wulf got it then.
"I get it."
The friends climbed back onto their horses and headed back to the king's road. They made it back without incident and went on their way.
They moved along a little faster now, as they had a putrid thing to dispose of. Tyler was looking over the arrows he'd retrieved from the corpses. Wulf chuckled.
"Damage?"
Tyler ran a finger along a shaft.
"None. That Lisk bone was a good idea."
The Elven ranger shook his head.
"You should try true dragonbone. Makes that look like glass."
"Believe me I wanna fight a true dragon. But let's wait until it's more of a fair fight."
Wulf laughed.
"Lad, it's a dragon! It's NEVER a fair fight!"
Tyler and the girls laughed hard at that.
"Fair."
They rode along and ate lunch in the saddle to save time. They were relaxing and just clip clopping along the dusty trail, a blue sky overhead and grassland to either side. It was a lazy day of riding and peace. Around 1 in the afternoon they entered a section of woodland, and found the shade nice after the beating sun on their heads. Tyler noticed something in the dirt.
"Hey, Wulf, see those grooves? That's not natural right?"
The elven ranger looked and nodded.
"No, those are wagon wheel tracks."
"Can you tell how fresh?"
HE looked as Kaori threw her thought out.
"I'd say a few minutes. Look, dirt ain't even hard."
Wulf was in agreement.
"Yeah, like ten minutes tops."
Tyler looked ahead.
"I can't see a wagon, maybe they're in a hurry."
The group readied their weapons just to be on the safe side. Tyler had his crystalline bow with a set of shafts on the string.
"Hey, listen."
Wulf had spoke as he held an ear to the air. The companions did, and heard the faint clang of swords on swords. Tyler spurred Thunder.
"GO!"
The group thundered into a gallop to either join the fray or loot the aftermath. The sounds of battle grew louder as they neared the mess. After rounding a bend they came upon the battle. A large armored wagon had been attacked by a large bank of thirty men, whereas a group of 15 knights with the kings insignia were guarding it. From the look of it, the knights had been completely caught by surprise, but had managed to put up a good fight, reducing the attacking force by ten. But now there was only five knights still standing by the time the team arrived on the scene. Tyler fired his shafts into the backs of the black clothed men and so did Kaori, Wulf and Malico. Tyler swung off Thunder and pulled Oblivion before slashing into the group of robbers. He cut through six before they regrouped. Kaori had also dismounted and was dancing in the rain of blood she produced due to her lightning fast blade work. The blonde had six to her name as Malico claimed four with her whirling daggers. Whereas Wulf got himself four as well. And that was it for the enemy force. The knights just stood there gaping at the sight of twenty men just get turned to mush in a mere 90 seconds. Tyler looked at his friends.
"We good?"
The ladies and Wulf nodded.
"Not a scratch."
"That was too easy."
"Indeed."
Tyler then looked to the knights.
"Who's in command here?"
A man came forward.
"Our captain was killed in the initial volley Sirrah. We have no knight of sufficient rank to lead us."
Tyler sighed as he looked at the wagon. The thing was twelve feet tall and coated in steel plating with a clear interior. The thing was about twenty feet long and was drawn by a team of six massive beasts. Tyler tilted his head,
"Hey, Wulf, this thing what I think it is?"
The elf left off the body he was searching to come look at it, and soon as he looked at it properly, he gasped.
"That's a royal transport!"
Tyler burst out laughing.
"Of fuckin course it is. Kaori! I bet you twenty gold that either the queen or the princess is in there."
The blonde snorted.
"I ain't takin such a friggin rigged bet."
The knights raised their shields nervously as Tyler walked towards them.
"Alright, let's see who's ass we saved."
The knights held their ground though. Tyler sighed.
"Idiots. If I wanted you dead, ya would be right now."
They looked at him, and still held their spot. Tyler then noticed a set of slits near top of the thing.
"fuck it, that works."
Tyler jumped right up to grab the slits, twelve feet up, and lift his head up to peer inside. The thing was rather lavish with cushions everywhere, silken blankets, and padded seats. HE looked around in the narrow vent until he spotted a pair of cowering ladies near the back of the thing. One was a tall lady with black hair, bright blue eyes, a large rack, and was clad in a dress of satin and silk. The other was a girl with the same features and hair, only younger. Tyler tilted his head.
"So, you the hell are you?"
HE had a mildly curious voice as he looked at the women. The taller gulped, and answered in shaky voice.
"I am princess Lillia Von Vernillian. This is my younger sister, Sera Von Vernillian. Where are our knights?"
Tyler looked down.
"Ya got about…five left."
He looked back to stare down a crossbow. The taller lady fired and Tyler merely tilted his head to the side as it augured past his head. HE looked at her like that.
"Wow, YOU got fire. I like it."
Tyler swung down and dusted his hands as he looked to his friends.
"We got both princesses in that death trap."
Kaori snorted.
"Course we do."
Tyler chuckled as a knight swung an axe at him from behind. Tyler sighed, stepped to the side, and flipped the knight onto his back with the axe in his hand. Tyler just looked at him.
"Seriously, cut the shit."
He looked to a older knight and tossed him the axe.
"You're oldest one here, step up."
The knight gulped.
"Only the king can-"
"Oh for the love of gods. Alright, I'LL take fuckin command here, since none of you have a damned spine."
Tyler rubbed his eyes before barking at them.
"Alright, get that door open so we can check on the girls."
They hesitated. So, Tyler glared at them with the Demon's eye.
"NOW! MOVE YOU SPINELESS BOYS!"
That did it, as his sudden roar galvanized the idiots into opening the door and allowing Tyler to walk up the plank inside the thing. The princesses went wide eyed as he strode into their haven. Then they started shaking as he neared them. The taller girl, Lilla, began pleading with him.
"Please, Sirrah, don't hurt Sera! Use me instead!"
Tyler crouched to look at them.
"You two injured?"
His question caught them off guard. Lillia gulped.
"No, Sirrah. We're not harmed."
Tyler smiled then.
"ya need better stooges miss. Those dingdongs won't cut it."
She glared at him.
"They are the best we have!"
"If they're the best ya got, then your kingdom's got some serious issues. You know they're unable to even pick a temporary field commander?"
She was shaking again.
"What will you do with us?"
Tyler sat on one of the cushioned benches.
"Wow this is…surprisingly comfy. Must suck when moving though."
He looked at them.
"Where you two headed?"
Sera spoke this time, her voice a nervous squeak.
"We're going to Raylik to visit Seline the town mayor. She's a good friend to our family."
Tyler sighed as he rubbed his eyes.
"Why'd I even bother asking?"
"Hey, Tyler, how's it look in there?"
Tyler looked to where kaori was standing with her hand on her katana.
"Three guesses where they were going an who they were seeing."
She sighed as well.
"Raylik to see the leader."
"Bullseye."
He looked back to see they were now pale as ghosts. He tilted his head.
"What?"
Lillia spoke next.
"Tyler? Kaori? The Murderers?"
He smirked.
"That's what they're calling us? Tch, lame. Yep. I'm Tyler, that's kaori. That kittycat is Malico and that is Wulf."
"Prick!"
"See? Yer learning!"
They chuckled as Tyler looked at the two cowering princesses.
"Now then, what to do with you two?"
Kaori hopped up inside the thing as the knights just stood there. The blonde sat opposite Tyler and crossed her arms.
"So, what's our play?"
He mirrored her posture as he thought.
"Personally? I'd rather just take our loot and go."
Kaori looked at the two girls.
"We could pretend to be good people again and help them."
Tyler looked at them again.
"I guess. I mean we need to start building our rep if we're to get anywhere. Even if I can't stand the crown."
Sera spoke up in defense of her father.
"Hey! Daddy is a kind man!"
Tyler sighed.
"Listen cutie, your father may be a good man or he may not, dudes a puppet king with that popes hand up his ass making him talk."
Lillia gasped, and Tyler and Kaori sighed.
"She knows."
"If that reaction is anything to go by, she knows EXACTLY what that bastards about."
Tyler then looked at the now scared girl. Kaori sighed as she knew exactly what he was doing. HE snorted after a few seconds. He then looked at kaori.
"Verdict?"
"That girl's been used and abused by the pope without her father's knowledge. She ain't 'pure' anymore either."
Lillia lost all the color in her face as he spoke, while kaori sighed.
"I shoulda just let you kill him when we had the chance."
"I've thought the same. But, well, we'll get another chance soon enough."
Sera was confused.
"Sister, what does he mean?"
Tyler looked at her. Then to Kaori.
"Should I?"
The blonde sighed.
"Better she finds out now then the hard way."
Lillia spoke up then.
"NO! Please, don't take her nights from her! She barely sleeps as it is!"
Tyler groaned at the older sister's attempt to shield her sister from reality.
"Lady, you not helping her here, you only setting her up for more pain when she does learn the truth."
Tyler sighed heavily.
"Well, kaori, what you think?"
She crossed her arms and looked at the duo.
"We ARE headed in the same direction."
Tyler rubbed his eyes.
"True. Yet I am REALLY not in the mood to play coddle."
That's when Kaori had a thought.
"We can use this as an opportunity."
Tyler looked to see the gears turning in her eyes.
"YOU have a plan."
She smiled.
"We can use this chance to get a sit-rep on the other warriors, our own rep, other info."
Tyler's eyes lit up.
"Good call, Shadow! No one looks at a princess twice in a patriarchal kingdom unless they're after the goods!"
Tyler looked at the now shaking duo.
"Looks like your lucky day. We'll escort you and your idiots to Raylik, since me and my crew were headed there anyway. We have questions you WILL answer, or, well, WALK."
HE was using his new glare, effectively terrifying the two girls. Then the older one, Lillia gulped.
"I'll talk, but NOT with Sera in earshot."
"YES you WILL. You two spoiled brats are getting a VERY harsh dose of OUR reality. Don't like it? Well, I'm sure I can find a merchant that'll pay a pretty copper for this wagon."
Lillia looked him in the eye.
"You wouldn't really throw us on the trail."
Kaori groaned. As Tyler smiled.
"Reeeally? And why's that?"
Lillia had noted kaori's pitying gaze, but clung to her stories.
"Because you're Warriors, and we're young girls, you're supposed to protect us."
Tyler looked at kaori.
"May I?"
She sighed.
"Make your point. They're starting to irritate me now too."
Tyler stood up and grabbed both now screaming girls by the collar and dragged them from the wagon to toss them in the dirt. The knights just stood there, as without a leader to tell them what to do next, they had no minds of their own. Malico was looking over a set of fresh Licenses she'd found with Wulf when the two shrieking royal girls were tossed off the plank into the dirt. Wulf gasped in shock as Malico sighed.
"By the gods!"
"Tyler, what'd they do?"
Tyler hopped down off the plank.
"More need to prove a point. They seem to think that just because me and kaori are Warriors, and them royalty, plus girls on top of that, they seem to think we're OBLIGATED to defend them. Plus, we got info on them we'll share later."
Lillia and Sera were sobbing as their clothes were dirtied. Lillia screamed at her knights.
"Help us!"
The older knight looked at her and then to his other knights.
"We can't. We don't have a leader."
Lillia just looked at him.
"But…but….I'm you PRINCESS! I ordered you to HELP US!"
He adjusted his helm.
"We don't know how. We need a commander to tell us HOW."
Tyler just looked at him, then to the princess and back like five times. He then looked to an equally stunned Wulf and Malico. Then he got a VERY bad feeling.
"Wulf, Malico, search the fallen knights. I think we may have just found something FAR more serious than a mere lost pair of girls."
The duo went into overdrive as Tyler went to stand before the knights.
"You. What are your current orders?"
The older knight spoke without hesitation.
"To escort the Ladies Lillia and Sera to Raylik on the order of the King."
"What were the popes orders?"
Again no hesitation.
"To ensure they died in the ambush."
"Go pick Sera up off the ground."
The knight moved and lifted the lady off the ground as gently as a cat. Tyler then gave him another order.
"Push her gently."
He then gave the extremely confused girl a light shove. Lillia looked at the knight then to a grim faced Tyler.
"Retake you position with the other knights."
Tyler went and crouched in front of the still fallen princess.
"Well, princess, looks like YOU were just kicked out of the palace."
"Tyler, you need to see this."
Tyler walked over to were Wulf and Malico were looking at a pair of licenses. Tyler poked them and got burned. He then looked to Wulf.
"What are they?"
Wulf had a very grim face.
"This is another River Of Torment."
He held up one License. He then indicated the other.
"THAT is Mind Subjugation. Another banned Black spell. It makes a mindless slave out of whoever it is cast upon. They will obey any order given to them to the letter without hesitation."
Tyler sighed.
"Can it be broken?"
He shook his head.
"No. For in order for it work, the caster has to mentally cripple the target with their own will. It is an excruciatingly painful process. Only one will mental strength like yours are immune. Or have something truly precious to them are able to resist."
Tyler sighed deeply.
"We need to get these to your queen, Wulf. Vernillion's standing army are all slaves."
Wulf handed the things to Malico who stored them in the pouch.
"I completely agree. We need to kill those knights, as they're now a liability."
Tyler nodded.
"I agree. Now, what of the those two?"
They looked to the now shaking princesses. Wulf sighed.
"Can we at least drop them off in Raylik? I'd sleep better if we did."
Tyler rubbed his eyes.
"We'll have to abandon the wagon. And share horses. Something tells me they can't ride worth a damn."
Wulf looked at the duo.
"I have room for Sera on Glacia."
Tyler looked at Thunder.
"I'll have Lillia on my horse. We need to have a chat, her an I."
The plan made, Tyler drew his broadsword.
"Knights! Huddle up!"
The men all grouped together, and he swung his weapon in an arc, cutting them all clean in half, as kaori came out of the wagon.
"What the hell?"
"Mount Up, kaori. We found another of those, and a worse one. We all need to go. NOW."
She understood. Tyler wiped the dripping blade clean as the now knightless girls backed away.
"You. Lillia, your with me on Thunder. You. Sera. You're with Wulf. Refuse and die. Argue, and get cut."
Tyler brought Thunder over and the now terrified Lillia was placed in the saddle, as Sera took her place in front of the elf. Once they were settled in the saddles, Tyler gave the order.
"We need to get to Raylik by tomorrow. Move!"
They spurred their horses into a fast gallop, leaving the carnage behind.
"Malico, get kaori up to speed."
The busty catgirl then pulled Kaori aside to tell her about the Licenses, as Tyler spoke to Lillia.
"Okay, toots, you gonna give me answers whether you want to or not."
HE heard her voice shake.
"Why? Why did you kill them?"
"Lady, those men were under a black spell called Mind Subjugation."
Her gasp was loud and shocked.
"IS THAT what you found?"
HE sighed.
"Did the pope rape you?"
The blunt question hit her hard, and she pressed her head in his back.
"Yes. Many times."
Her voice was barely a whisper above the cacophony of hooves. Tyler sighed.
"Called it. Lemme guess, he said if you didn't take it, he'd go after Sera?"
"How do you know this? That room was sealed!"
"Lady, your eyes are an open book for someone like me. I can figure you out like I WAS you."
She pressed her head into his back, both feeling the chainmail under his shirt, and lines of scars around his neck.
"What else to you know?"
"That the pope is the REAL ruler of this country, yet hasn't the power for an open overthrow. Hence the mind spells."
She sniffed.
" Gruven?"
"He sacrificed himself to give me a level boost, his sword, and our escape. The pope wanted to take kaori. I said no. He ordered Gruven to kill me and deliver his new toy to his bed, only Gruven threw the fight. Then we were running."
Lillia smiled, and he could feel it.
"Always the self-sacrificing hero. But, even WITH the boost, how did you escape the tower? That's the pope's seat of power!"
Tyler smiled.
"Lillia, there is not a soul out there that can catch me if I don't WANT to be caught. That, plus my drive to protect kaori, plus the confusion of the Warriors arrival plus the sudden orders to capture two on top of a knight captain's death, the tower was thrown into chaos."
Lillia shuddered.
"You were able to both defy the pope, and escape hie home without a scratch. Remarkable."
Tyler chuckled darkly.
"When I draw my line in the dirt, NOTHING gets past it. Now, what's the statuses of the other Warriors?"
She groaned.
"They've been a pain in ass since they got here. They'll only take easy jobs, they bully others at will, and some have their way with every woman they take a fancy too! It's revolting!"
"What about a boy by the name of Kazuma? Tall, blonde boy green eyes with the same build as that elf?"
Lillia smiled.
"Kazuma? I know him well, he was arrested by the pope, and was set to be tortured by them for your crimes, but my father, King Ishtar had him released on the grounds of he having not even been in the same ROOM."
"Well, that's a relief. Bastard's always been the lucky one. YOU seem rather fond of him."
HE could FEEL her blush.
"He's so kind and handsome. Plus one of the few Warriors that actually WORKS for his coin. My father adores him as well, saying he's what a knight should be."
"HA! That fits that jackass WAY to freakin much!"
Kaori had ridden up and was laughing, and so was Tyler. Lillia was confused.
"Are you mocking him? He's a brave boy!"
"Toots, that blonde beauty beside ya is his sister, and me an him are childhood friends. Even if we're polar opposites."
Lillia did hilarious double takes between him and the blonde.
"Are you serious? He never told me that!"
Tyler sighed.
"Probably because he learned it's probably NOT a good idea to go broadcasting his connections to us. Dude may be a hopeless optimist, but he ain't stupid or dense."
Kaori was in agreement.
"idiot probably got busted AFTER telling them he was my brother. He always was the type to need to stick his hand in the fire to see if it WAS hot. Unlike a certain dipshit that sticks his hand in the fire KNOWING it's hot just so he can feel it for himself."
"At least I take the time to check, unlike a certain barbie that had to have me reteach her basic algebra twice….in the same day."
"Real big talk coming from the boy that needed me to tell him that the letter he found on his desk was NOT a love letter!"
"Coming from the blonde bimbo that nearly failed English three times in one semester, and WOULD have failed if not for a OVERLY kind best friend that enjoyed her company for some odd friggin reason."
Lillia was stifling laughter at the friends banter. Tyler was smiling, and so was Kaori. Then Tyler had another question.
"Lillia, have the other Warriors done ANYTHING of real note?"
She sighed as the mood died.
"A small group were responsible for killing a rogue Drakolisk in the Dark Forest, who I am not sure, as the head knight of the raid, Duke, was stripped of his title and sent to the walls before I could ask him, and my father refused to tell me saying I didn't want to know. It was odd, since the killing of such a beast is often hailed as a feat of heroism. Then yet another small group made a scene outside the vile city of Dragul, and it is now in a state of open revolt. The rebels are rallying under a banner of a black wolf and dragon. I wish to thank the Warrior that set that city off, as I was always appalled by that little man Valdic. Plus, I've heard whispers that same group are now the best of friends with the nasty Spirit of the Dark Forest herself."
She was talking wistfully, as if listing off the deeds of the heroes of old. Tyler and his friends were smirking. Then she sighed as she continued.
"Kazuma has also made a name for himself as a fierce bandit hunter and defender of justice. And that's it for the truly GOOD Warrior deeds."
Tyler just sighed.
"That bad?"
Lillia was saddened now.
"A group visited a small village in the western plains and left the local tavern in ruins after a drunken brawl that resulted in fifteen dead. Another group owes several thousand gold in damages for starting a fire in the port city of Yalik. There's reports of random Warriors mugging people in the streets of Term, a warrior party are deemed responsible for the slaughter of a party of Knights near the SkyStream. From what I heard, only a single man returned alive, saying that a boy with a gaze of ice and a blonde goddess slaughtered his men and took his arm. Then he said the boy used a White spell to heal his arm before sending him on his way. I thought it odd that bandits would do that, but never got the full story. A report came from Raylik recently that a party of Warriors came through and started a bar fight that escalated into a near war in the streets. Several dozen were badly hurt, and from what I understand, a call for healers as gone out. And other smaller reports her and there."
Tyler sighed.
"My party is responsible for a few things there. That slaughter by the SkyStream is the only thing on your list of bad though."
She squeaked.
"What? Why'd you attack our knights unprovoked like that?"
"THEY attacked US. Okay? We'd camped beside the river for the night, and were awakened by an attempted ambush. I myself healed that survivor by Kaori's request, since executions don't sit well with her."
Lillia sighed.
"Explains why I couldn't get a straight answer."
Tyler smiled again.
"As for the Lisk? Here, look at what my arrows are made of."
Now curious, Lillia pulled a shaft from his quiver.
"This….is Drakolisk bone! YOU killed a Drakolisk?"
"Well, the elf wasn't apart of our circus then but yeah. Was fun."
She replaced the shaft into the quiver,
"What else are you responsible for?"
"Well, I blew up a communication sphere in Valdic's face, and set off the rebellion."
Lillia hugged him.
"Thank you! I HATE that little man!"
Tyler smiled.
"And we're good friends with The Spirit Of The Dark Forest. We're even on a first name basis."
Lillia gasped in awe.
"You know her name? How'd you get passed Lady juniper?"
"Oh that big teddy bear? We're good friends as well. That sexy kittycat over there's her sister."
Malico waved as Lillia just looked at her. Then she looked at Tyler with the awe of one meeting a hero of old.
"You are hailed as evil murderers throughout the capital, and yet you've been preforming deeds of might and heroism akin to the heroes of legend."
Tyler smiled darkly.
"I'm no hero, toots. My first priority is keeping kaori, Malico and Wulf alive. Rest o yall can go fuck yerselves."
Kaori and the other two chuckled.
"He's telling the truth. If I or Malico don't step in, he's absolutely merciless. He'd kill you rather then deal with you if you give him a hassle."
Lillia was now nervous,
"He's that dangerous?"
"I drove my sword into the Lisk's heart myself, so what do you think?"
Lillia pressed her head into his back.
"I see your point."
Tyler smiled,
"Hey, Wulf, how's your passenger doing?"
The elf chuckled.
"She's asleep."
They all looked and sure enough, Sera was asleep in the elven ranger's arms. Tyler smirked,
"Nice to see someone likes you, Wulf. Gods know why, but there it is."
The dark haired elf flipped him off. Tyler snorted.
"Nice to see yer paying attention."
The group laughed before settling into a calm silence. They rode along for a further hour when kaori spoke up.
"hey, we need to give the horses a rest."
Tyler nodded.
"Alright. Hey, Wulf, you've been here before, best spot for a rest?"
The elf looked at their surroundings.
"Another hour of riding will get us to a stream with a large amount of fish and is surrounded by a rockface on three sides."
"That works. My ass hurts."
That got a chuckle as they headed to the spot.
The spot in question was indeed a good one, set within a small area of woodland with a large stream next to it. The clearing itself was surrounded on three sides by thirty foot crags of grey stone. Tyler and his party dismounted and got to work. Tyler's white and blue path flared as he set Protective warning and tranquil waters, Kaori with Wulf saw to the horses, as Malico looked after the princesses as they were useless at making camp. Lillia and Sera were amazed by Tyler's dual paths.
"He's a priest?"
That made the group laugh, as they knew the truth. Then the busty kitty Malico sat beside Lillia and Sera on a rock as they watched Tyler set the perimeter spells.
"Nowhere near a priest. He's merely setting it up as a heads up so we can properly meet our guests."
Sera tilted her head.
"The white path is usually exclusively for healers. Does he have any healing spells?"
Malico patted her soft black hair.
"He has a few. We need more, as most of our licenses are useless."
Tyler finished his set up, and looked at the sky, the normally light blue of mid-day was rapidly descending into the darker blue of evening. He sighed.
"Hey, Wulf, after this spot, how close is the next spot?"
HE tilted his head.
"About…four hours hard ride."
"So it'd be well past nightfall."
The elf nodded.
"it would."
Tyler sighed again.
"We'll stay the night here then. We need to reach Raylik by tomorrow night at the latest."
The group nodded as little Sera bawled.
"I'm sleeping OUTDOORS?"
Tyler lifted the tent off Thunder.
"Keep complaining and it'll be on the stone instead of in our tent."
She pouted.
"I'm a princess!"
"Keep talkin and no food either. Now, get to work and get us some firewood for splitting. Malico, go with em and if they don't pull their weight they get nothin."
"On it! Let's go ladies, time to grow up."
The catgirl led the two complaining girls into the woodland as Tyler pitched the tent against the rock wall, as Wulf and kaori laid out their weapons from cleaning and upkeep. Once the tent was up Tyler did the same, laying out Oblivion, his Magicite sword and his crystalline bow. He heard Wulf sigh.
"What's up?"
Wulf held up his bow ruefully.
"It's got a new crack here in the curve."
Tyler sat by the man and looked at it. Sure enough, his trusty bow had a long hairline crack in the center of a limb. Tyler sighed as well now.
"Well THAT'S a dead bow."
Wulf placed aside to take his sword and run a whetstone along it's length.
"That was a gift from my father. He died shortly after."
Tyler was adding a new edge to Oblivion as they conversed.
"That sucks. Can it be repaired?"
He smiled.
"Not out in the wilds. There's a shop in Raylik that does bow repair. I can get it fixed once we get there."
"Well, that's a plus."
Tyler set Oblivion aside and lifted the broadsword.
"I need to name this thing."
Kaori was sitting across from them, and smiled as she ran a stone over Dawn, her katana.
"I'd wait until we get to a smithy."
"Sure. I mean I already have it's name, but sure."
They chuckled as Malico and the now weeping princesses came back with the fire wood. Tyler laughed at the looks of disgust on the pampered girls.
"Verdict, Malico?"
She groaned as she set her logs down.
"Oh they're HOPELESS! All they did was COMPLAIN! And I had to carry the MAJORITY!"
Tyler looked to kaori and Wulf, who nodded.
"It's only fair."
"Indeed. We all work so why shouldn't they have to?"
Tyler looked at the two girls.
"No food. You want to eat in OUR party, you HELP us. WITHOUT bitching."
They stomped their feet as they bawled.
"We're royal princesses! We've NEVER slept in the woods or had to do this before!"
"Meanie! You could at least be nice to us!"
"Keep talking and you'll sleep outside our tent. Now, you want food, EARN it."
He was now using the hard voice that had intimidated Wulf, and the effect on the girls was far more pronounced. AS they were both trembling. Tyler then sighed as he got up.
"Wulf said there was a stream nearby, right? I'll go catch us some fish. YOU two spoiled brats make yerselves useful."
He heard them whining as he carried the rod, line and bait to the side of the stream with his bow and short sword. He dropped the line in the slow current and just groaned inwardly. We've stumbled onto a international crisis. Those licenses mere existence was enough to get me worried. Now that I know for a fact they've been used, on royal knights no less, tells me this kingdom is on the verge of going down in flames. Plus that elf bow. The way Wulf keeps looking at it hints of a prophecy. I am NOT a prophesied hero. I am not a hero period. Am curious what an elf queen looks like though, but not the time. I'm getting some real heavy chosen one vibes here that I AM NOT liking. My ONLY concern is keeping Kaori and Malico alive and safe."
He sighed as he pulled a 3 foot salmon from the stream. He set the catch behind him as he set another line. Tyler banished his worries from his mind to fish in peace.