“Finally, you’ve got this figured out!” shouted Dezzlin as they raced across the desert. After days of hard riding, Sakien and Mekov had been hardened into official riders. They followed the leaders and guided their horses as if they had grown up with them. Dezzlin smiled and was proud to see they’d finally come along.

Sakien looked like a wild barbarian on his horse. Sakien held his axe out to his side and kept a feral grin as they rode. He was beginning to like this, and Dezzlin felt the man would gladly charge into battle on his horse now. He didn’t know a damn thing about fighting on horseback, but Dezzlin felt he’d be willing to try.

If Sakien looked like a wild man, then Mekov was the knight. All Mekov was missing was the shining armor and he could’ve passed for one. He kept his shield locked in one arm and his lance steady in the other. He’d balanced himself well, and it looked like his weaponry no longer hindered him. Dezzlin still felt the man would fall off his horse in a real charge, but he looked good.

They were making excellent time, and Dezzlin and Miranda were sure they’d hit town before nightfall. It was a good thing too because Kira was most likely on the market today and they had to get there as fast as possible. They all knew once they got to town they would have to find Kira before Sakien and Mekov did. The two talked about peaceful negotiations, but their eyes said they’d more likely gut Utin in the middle of the street and walk away like nothing happened.

Fortunately, Sakien and Mekov knew nothing about this land or its cities. They didn’t know the layout most port towns here shared or who to talk to. Dezzlin and Miranda had both been to Port Agnoth, and they knew how the system worked. They were sure they could run circles around their northern friends when it came to discovering Kira’s location. That was the hope at least.

The group started down one of the final slopes to town when suddenly the hills around them became full of men. They were at the same pass the bandits had hit up Kira’s caravan and they’d never left. Dezzlin pulled his horse around to stop the group as he saw their escape get cut off. Charging into arrows and bolts would only get them killed. They would either have to run the other way or hope the bandits wanted to deal.

“What do we do?” asked Diake.

“I say we kill them all,” said Sakien viciously as he raised his axe into the air. Dezzlin thought that was very unlikely. Their thick armor would probably allow them to get into one’s of the bandit’s ranks, but it would be over after that. Dezzlin and Miranda shared concerned looks. Most likely they were all going to die right now.

“Wait!” shouted a voice from the bandits. The bandits paused and the hunters looked confused as one of the bandits headed down. “What is your business out here?”

“Monster hunters traveling to the port city!” called out Dezzlin. “What do you want?”

“You know what we are,” replied the bandit. “You know what we seek.”

“Come and take it,” growled Sakien as he edged his horse forward. The bandit shook his head and waved for his men to disperse off the hills.

“Not today,” shouted the bandit heartily. “Make your way to the city.”

“That’s it?” asked Diake confused. “You just wanted to stop us?”

“No, we wanted to rob you,” said the bandit, coming closer. “However, we have a strict policy of not harming hunters of monsters.”

“Why?” asked Miranda. The others looked at her to not question their good fortune, but the bandit moved forward to speak with them more personally.

“Once a long time ago, this group ambushed a group of hunters. They had good cover, but we would’ve overtaken them. Then a monster came out of the sand and began to take us apart. It was the perfect opportunity for the monster hunters to escape us, but they didn’t.”

“They charged in alongside us and defended us. They brought down a beast which would’ve killed most of us. When the fight was over, we had them surrounded, and now they were injured and in the open. When asked why they helped us, they said, “It’s what we do. If anyone is danger from a monster, we will go to their defense.” After that day, we swore we’d never harm a member of the guild and would offer them any assistance they needed.”

“It is what we do,” agreed Diake.

“Do you need any help? Anything we can provide we’d be glad to.”

“No, but thank you,” said Sakien. “I’m afraid we must get to the city.”

“Did you see a caravan pass through here?” asked Miranda.

“We did,” said the bandit. “They came through just last night.”

“So they are at the city,” said Diake.

“They did make it,” said the bandit.

“No doubt with slightly lighter wallets,” said Dezzlin.

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“Yes,” said the bandit happily, “but unharmed. Were you seeking them?”

“They had a girl among them, stolen from this man,” said Miranda as she nodded to Sakien.

“I see,” said the bandit. “Then let me keep you no further. Ride as hard as you can to the city. If you need information, there is a tavern just inside of town called The Lazy Coat. Tell the bartender as discreetly as you can the black coats sent you.”

“Thank you,” said Sakien. The bandit nodded and smacked one of the horse’s behinds to start their charge. Once they were a good way away, Dezzlin looked back at them all smiling.

“You have no idea how lucky we are.”

“I do,” shouted Miranda back. “Black coats are some of the most vicious bandits in the area. Their clan is notorious from here to the capital. Nobody gets by them without a fight or payment.”

“Then luck is on our side today,” said Mekov.

“We made good friends,” agreed Sakien.

*

Ven may have been a fool when he selected Kira for purchase, but he knew how to play the market. The moment the captain was gone he made a scene of getting Kira untied and leading her out of the market. He had two men holding her ropes and promised loudly that he would fix his mistake.

“Lissan! You’re in control of the stock and selling until I get back.” His underling looked at his master surprised. Lissan was only sixteen, and while he’d been learning, he’d never sold a damn thing personally.

“Really?”

“Yes and don’t disappoint me,” he warned.

The minute they were off the main street he informed his men to take Kira back to the warehouse and put her back in her crate. Ven needed to find out what to do with her. He needed to find out what was true about her and what wasn’t. More importantly, he needed someone to put all the blame on.

Ten minutes later, Ven was in a different part of the trade district and was asking everywhere for Utin. He knew Utin would have plenty to sell today and would have to be here personally. It took Ven a while to find the rat faced bastard, but he found him. Utin was sitting behind a giant stall as an attendant sold his products.

“A word Utin,” he demanded. The attendant tried to stop Ven, but Ven for once was angry enough to fight back. He shoved the older man aside and stood before Utin seething.

“Ven,” said Utin with a slight nod, “how can I help you today?”

“You sold me stolen goods,” hissed Ven.

“Watch your tongue or I will have it cut from your mouth.” Ven was ready to spit on Utin’s face, but he knew Utin had a good staff of guards. Utin also had a much better reputation, and everyone would probably allow him to have Ven beaten.

“The girl you sold me,” whispered Ven. “There are claims she belongs to some northern barbarians. Worse, she claims ties to the Hunter’s Guild.”

Utin knew all of this already. He, like many merchants, was fed information from a series of spies from the city. Any valuable information or event that suddenly occurred and dozens of young boys would be scattering through the city to spread it. Utin had personally requested an eye be kept on Ven and his new cargo. The informant had come a good ten minutes before Ven had.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Utin calmly. “I just arrived last night and am just now putting all my goods up for sale. I came in with no slaves this time.”

“You came in with that girl, and I bought her last night,” whispered Ven.

“No, I didn’t,” said Utin. Ven raised his eyes in horror, and they shared an understanding. Utin knew what a dangerous product Kira was now, and he would have no part of it. Nobody had seen him come in with the girl or conduct the trade with Ven and he’d keep it that way.

Ven’s lip trembled as he debated what to do. His usual strategy of getting the goods before the market opened had backfired on him. He wanted to call Utin a cheat and a liar but it would do him no good. It would be Utin’s word versus Ven’s, and nobody would consider it a worthy argument. Utin would deny until the world ended and nothing Ven did could prove him guilty. He was trapped.

“I suggest you leave here before your slander gets you into real trouble.” Utin held his hand out and Ven left. There was nothing he could do.

Regardless of his lie passing, Utin stood from his chair and disappeared. Even being related to such a dangerous item by rumor could be bad. He would lay low for a while and be sure to publicly denounce anything Ven said. As long as nobody saw him, he could make sure the tales died as a rumor. Maybe he would take the day off and relax. After his trip through the desert, Utin could certainly use it.

Ven knew he had to get rid of this girl and he had to do it now. The longer she remained in his possession the further she’d poison his operation. He went to the warehouse and found his two men looking bitter inside. Ven noticed one had a bloody nose with a piece of cloth jammed in it.

“What happened?” he demanded.

“Girl tried to escape,” said the clean one.

Ven stormed past them and looked at Kira angrily. Kira was sitting in her crate rubbing the start of a large bruise on her face. Damnation, he thought. Now, she was also a bruised slave girl and nobody would really take her.

“Wait outside,” he said to his men. When he was sure the door was closed, he looked to Kira. “Are you really a hunter?”

“Yes,” she said proudly. “The guild is going to rip you apart when they find out.”

“If they find out,” warned Ven. “And the mark on your head? What does it mean?”

“You heard the captain,” said Kira sweetly. “It means my master is going to kill you unless you let me go. He’s probably in town by now.”

Ven bit his lip and stepped away from the crate so the girl couldn’t see him. This was bad. This girl was a real liability, and he had paid good money for her. His sales would take a dip thanks to the captain and his life could potentially be in danger.

“Going to let me out?” asked Kira. “I promise I won’t hurt you or let my master hurt you. Just let me out and I’ll forget this ever happened.”

It was the best option, thought Ven. He’d take a loss on her but he’d be able to keep his reputation intact. But it was this master he was worried about. What if he let the girl go and they came and finished him off? Or what about the guild? If she really was a hunter she could go and report him all the same. He was in danger either way.

A smile came to his lips. No, he wouldn’t let her go. Ven would gag her again and pass her off just as Utin had done. He couldn’t sell her on the markets, but he could probably dump her on one of the ships leaving port. Lower the price and some captain would take her off his hands. Then, he could possibly come out even, be rid of the girl, and if anyone came asking, he would do exactly what Utin had done to him. Deny, deny, deny.

It all worked out perfectly in his mind. He called his men back in and pointed to Kira’s crate. First task was getting that gag on the nasty girl.