Chapter 14

As a Tamarin your hairs are quite thick and thorn-like. Much like the Thornwolverines but then without the dangerous pointy ends. It seems that Tamarin are able to communicate with one another through these. They work like some type of antenna. I had previously noted that there was a strange different compartment in my neck that seemed to have a connection with this. So I tried using it and though I couldn't hear what I was saying I could sense it. Thus I replied: 'I am a traveling merchant; I came to participate in the trial.'

'I am doing the trial right now.' signaled the Tamarin to me as he was quickly approaching. Behind him were 2 more who stayed at a distance. I guess I can presume that they are overseers of the trial; possibly they two overseers who caught Boren and Mys Tara in their attempt to cheat.

They Tamarin had reached the edge of the brush and came out into the opening created by the big tree I was under. He looked up to see the line of fire that was still burning brightly and noted the huge tree-branch that lay split in pieces at its roots. As he approached he also noted the dead Thornwolverines that lay all around. He was visibly taken-aback by it.

The overseers had also reached the edge of the brush but they stayed in the brush when they saw the open field and that the other Tamarin was slowly walking towards me.

'What happened here?' said the strange looking Tamarin to me.

'I came to this jungle and was stalked by these thornwolverines so I went up into the tree but when it was morning and they were still around I figured it to be best to take them down. There had initially been 9 of them but when I saw only 5 I jumped down and took them out. While I was doing that the other 4 appeared from a hole under the tree but luckily that branch fell down from above.' I replied.

'What is your name?' he asked.

'My name is Frank; or that is what they have chosen to call me. I lived with the Dragoon Riders before but they seem to have gotten themselves in an odd position so I had to leave. This place was closest by. What is your name?'

'Ah where are my manners, I am Mathijs of the Tamarin and I am becoming and adult today. Could I maybe borrow one of those thornwolverines? They are very hard to find and you've got several already.' Mathijs said with a grin.

'You do know that you're being watched, right?' I replied with a grin of my own.

Mathijs kept grinning but I could see in his eyes that he had no idea that he was being watched; kind of despaired he asked 'Did they hear what I said?'

'Nope, they're too far away for that, you're still safe and won't be accused of your fraudulent nature. Besides; what is up with your outfit? Why all the leaves?' I asked, it was quite silly looking.

'That is for camouflage!' he said.

'Can't you just stealth?' I asked.

'of course not; it is very hard to learn how to stealth only a few are able to do it and even fewer are able to do it while moving around which is a necessary action when you're going hunting. You know moving to find prey and such...'

'I can stealth while moving around and I can see all who are stealthed. ' I replied; seems like I have gained some great abilities in these past couple days. Wouldn't have dared to dream of these things just a week ago.

The two overseers had seen that something was amiss and came out of hiding; still stealthed they approached us. 'I see, so these two are able to move while being stealthed.' I yelled in their direction. Mathijs twitched; he probably thought they came to disqualify him but I need all the allies I can get so I was planning on covering for him. I had spotted a tenth thornwolverine approaching. As it goes with all stealthed creatures (including these two Tamarin) they are confident that they can move around undetected. This particular thornwolverine seemed to have been the pack leader as it was vastly bigger than the others; he was walking straight towards me.

The two overseers unstealthed after being surprised by me having noticed their presence so easily. I then turned to Mathijs and requested him to swing his sword as hard as he could 2 steps behind him, he saw the intention in my eyes and after having heard that I could see all those who are stealthed he seemed to have trust in what I was saying and thus did exactly what I had told him. He quietly and quickly unsheathed his sword and as he turned he made a big jump backwards slashing his sword side-ways as fast as he could cutting off the neck of the thornwolverine who had jumped up in surprise. As the head was severed it unstealthed. All except me were surprised.

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'Wow!' said Overseer A.

'Huge!' said Overseer B.

Mathijs after standing still for a moment sheathed his sword again turned to me and whispered 'thanks' before the overseers got too close to hear it.

'How did you see a stealthed thornwolverine behind your back?' They asked Mathijs.

'I.. uhm... knew it was there.' He seems to have made something up.

'How did you know it was there Mathijs? We were following you and we didn't even notice.'

'I had noticed the movement in the brush which is why I slowly walked towards Frank here and as I turned my back to where I knew it was; it was sure to approach at a certain speed from a certain angle all just as I had planned. It was a gamble but my hunting instincts never fail.'

He was very good at bluffing.

Both overseers were slightly nodding their heads in admiration and then turned to me; 'and you. Who are you?'

'I'm Frank and I wanted to participate in the trial but after taking down these 9 Thornwolverines I don't feel like that it is that big of a deal anymore.' I said with a prideful grin.

'Who are you? As in where are you from?' expounded the other overseer; 'it is obvious that you aren't from around these parts otherwise we would've know you for your skill and you wouldn't be wearing those awful clothes.'

'I'm a traveling merchant and these clothes are a necessity when you trade with the Dragoon Riders.' I replied sternly, my grin had disappeared after seeing that these guys couldn't take a joke.

'How did you notice us?' Asked the other Overseer; Their eyes now slightly squinched as I was questioned.

I wasn't going to give away my secret that fast. Besides mana-shields and mana-detectors hadn't reached these lands yet so even if I did tell them the truth they wouldn't understand. I guess it was time for me to bluff;

'I was taught by the dragoon riders to sense other living beings, through this sense dragoon riders are able to ride on dragoons but my ability is only at the level where I can sense others approaching.' The best way to bluff is by making it seem like no big deal.

'Wow, didn't know that Dragoon Riders could do that.' Said Mathijs who was listening intently.

We then noticed that it had become lighter, the sun was coming up. 'Lets continue the talk in the city; follow us.' Said Overseer A to us both. It seems that I was able to find the city and beat the trial all at the same time; I might also be able to discuss peace with the elders today.

The Overseers then started running to the west, I went with Mathijs following after them as best we could. I had never run much before. Happens when you stick to a lab for half of your life.

'Oh, you're quite slow.' said Mathijs as he looked back to me. It seems that he was keeping pace with me. 'Well if you can ride dragons then running isn't something you do very often.' I replied as we went into the brush. Maybe I should have done the running training more often is what I thought. The two overseers who were now not stalking someone quickly cut the vegetation in front of them with their swords without slowing down their running. Me and Mathijs simply followed in their paths. It was quite useful since I wasn't able to keep up with them I would've surely lost sight of them.

'How far is it?' I asked

'Its about half an hour to get to the village where we'll be having breakfast; we'll be heading to the city afterwards.' Mathijs answered. It seemed like he was quite in shape as he had no trouble speaking while running while I was unaccustomed to this. Thus I set my mind to running and asked no further.

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Thank you RR for the spelling check, it is very helpful since the software I am using doesn't include the English dictionary for some reason.

Also for you dear readers who have made it all the way to chapter 14; here's a little fun fact bout me:

I used to be an avid gamer but ever since I started writing this story gaming in general has become very boring to me and I tend to much rather think or theorize about the world and story.

I am trying to bring a message of peace hope and happiness in my story but for some odd reason there is war, confusion and regret going on in this story instead. But I am sure you know that a good ending only comes after the troubles have been washed away; with ice cream! though I'm allergic to cream.