He thought about telling her, but ended up deciding not to worry her. “One of the barrels fell out and broke but it's okay, the guards saved what they could and buried the rest.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Venice wont cry over one less barrel.” She continued reading. Nico looked around. He didn't see anyone, no travelers, no wandering merchants, only some farmers out in the distance. Silence filled the air as they rode, driving Nico crazy. Half an hour went by when he finally broke.

Nico asked "So what nunnery did you go to?"

Rosa didn't reply at first, only looking up after Nico repeated himself a minute later. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I was thinking that since you can read, someone must have taught you at a nunnery," Nico said, not sure if he was making things uncomfortable.

"Oh no, I went to Ms. Del Bianco School for Young Ladies in Florence. And yes I know, how was someone with my status able to go to such a high class school? I was sent there by my uncle..." Rosa said but trailed off at the end, like what she said was flooding with memories she didn't like.

Nico noticed the change in her voice and he quickly changed the subject. "Have you been to Venice before? It's a beautiful city, like a dream! I think you'll like it there."

Rosa nodded and smiled, pushing away tears around her eyes. "I haven't had the chance to visit yet. I'm looking forward to it though. What's your favorite part about being a Knight?"

"Hmm." Nico thought for a moment, tapping the reins on his arms. "My favorite part is when people look at me and you can tell in their eyes that they feel safe. That they can smile knowing I'm strong enough to stop anything that tries to harm them." He smiled and turned to face the road leaving them both lost in their own thoughts until they arrived at their destination.

That night, wolves howled as the moon hung low in the sky and casted a silvery glow on the convoy as it rested for the night. Nico had agreed with the guards it would be safer to make camp outside the forest and enter it in the morning. They had pulled off the road close to the forest. The wagons were placed in a half circle with the crest of the circle facing the forest, all their tents were placed perfectly in the half circle for cover. The scent of roasting meat had filled the air when they were finished setting up, making Rosa's stomach speak a language everyone knew well.

Most of the guards were sitting by the fire, cooking fresh rabbit meat. Nico and one other guard stood watch, keeping eyes on the entrance of the wood they made camp next to.

"Hey, Nico," Rosa called from where she sat near the fire, poking at a skewer of meat. "You think we'll reach Venice without any trouble?"

"Of course," Nico replied confidently, turning around and leaning against a wagon wheel. "With me here, what could possibly go wrong?"

Suddenly there was a large crashing noise from the forest, startling him half to death. Nico whipped around as a snarling wolf leapt from the foliage, heading straight for one of the carts. The oxen neighed in terror, jerking their reins in panic. The wolf ran around one of the wagons, guards yelling and swinging their arms to keep the wolf away.

Nico chased the wolf past the tents and followed it towards the forest. The moonlight was partially covered by the forest, causing him to have a hard time tracking the wolf.

Without notice, the wolf cut left and headed straight for the forest. Nico drew his sword in a flash of silver. Pulling it close to his mouth and pointing it straight out towards the forest, sparks danced around the blade followed by flames exploding out. With a large breath he blew out, casting fire off the sword and burning the ground twenty feet in front of him. He continued as he turned his body left to right, creating a fire wall in front of the wolf.

The wolf stopped when it saw the fire wall, now stuck between it and Nico. "Why did you trap it? It was going back to the forest!" One of the guards called out.

Nico extinguished his sword and pointed at the wolf. "It's not a wild animal, look!" The wolf had a collar and red paint over the animal's rib cage, making a weird shape that he couldn't make out.

"Bandits are nearby! Someone calm the oxen, we are leaving!" he shouted to the guards. He ran forward, raising his sword to strike the wolf down. The wolf bared its fangs, preparing to pounce.

Just as he was about to bring the blade down, another loud noise of rustling bushes stopped him. A second wolf emerged from the trees and jumped over the fire, baring its fangs and growling as it stood next to the first wolf. This one however had gold paint matted in its hair. Nico was able to see what was painted this time, a gold paw print. This wolf however seemed to be holding back with the other wolf as if they were waiting. Nico stood there, holding his sword with both hands. He knew if he moved first the wolves would react and attack him from behind.

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Nico's attention changed when bandits started emerging from the forest. These bandits were moving like a swarm, at least fifteen people had marched out from the trees. They kicked dirt onto the fire wall as they approached, removing their only obstacle. Nico thought at first they were werewolves. They wore black wolf pelts as clothes with the only metal on them being iron bracers and belts. Some of them even had makeshift leather armor over the pelts.

The leader of the bandits, a dark man with greasy dreadlocks and a muddy green robe stepped forward. "Well, well, what do we have here? A child playing knight, standing guard over a convoy? He spoke with a gruff voice as he looked around and addressed his men, revealing a gold paw print on his left cheek ." Looks like the boss was right, they were right where he said they would be."

Nico narrowed his eyes and pointed his sword at the leader. "I'm truly humbled you've been keeping such a close eye on me. I didn't know my reputation was known this far inland."

The bandits turned their attention to each other, laughing hysterically. A couple of them even slapped each other's shoulders and bent over in laughter.

The leader stopped laughing and turned his attention back to Nico. "Oh, we don't want you. We're after what you stole from us." Lifting his hands in the air, he continued. "This is Hound territory and we are here to claim what is rightfully ours." His gaze focused, one hand pointing at the barrels sitting in the wagons.

Nico looked behind him, all five guards were standing behind him, swords ready. Rosa was hidden in the back, behind the middle wagon, holding a small knife in a reverse grip. Nico didn't have to think about where she learned to hold a knife like that. One of the guards leans forward, speaking so soft Nico could barely hear him. "Sir, we are hugely outnumbered and that's not including the wolves. Bino heard that you can challenge any Alpha out right and they are honor bound to accept."

Nico whispered back. "Are you suggesting a duel or a holmgang?"

The guard on the right of Nico leaned in, Nico remembering from earlier today that this was Bino. " A holmgang sir, duels are too fancy with many rules. Holmgangs have only one rule, to the death. Rumors say that the Hounds solve any issues with holmgangs. But as a Fire Domitor, you should be able to end this quickly."

Nico hated the idea instantly when he heard death, but what option did he have? They were outnumbered, sure he could kill a couple of them, but the rest would overpower all the guards and Rosa before he could help. Challenging was the best option, plus he was a Fire Domitor, an old Roman name to call a Fire Crestborn. Taking out the Alpha shouldn't take too long.

Returning his attention towards the Hounds, Nico held his sword up towards the Alpha and spoke loudly. "You can walk away now Mutt Leader, I would hate to embarrass you in front of your- pack?"

Even with the soft light of the moon and small fires surfacing, Nico could clearly see the Leader's face turn multiple shades of red. The only response he received were loud grunts before the Alpha looked around to all the members behind him , shouting. "Did you hear this runt? Must think he can outrun the wolves, but can he dance with an Alpha?"

Chanting started filling the air as the Alpha started beating his chest repeatedly, howling and screaming as the rest of the gang copied him. Nico watched, studying the Alpha's movements as the Alpha hyped up his men. Nico looked for any sign of weakness or a tell to help him figure out this Alpha. This one was not like the one from the lake. In fact none of them seemed like they were from the same gang as the Hounds from the lake.

They definitely acted more animal-like, possibly more like actual Hounds than any other member who claimed to be part of the Hounds. Hopefully he could end this holmgang quickly and convince the others to retreat, losing this cargo could cause him to lose his chances at more Labors. He didn't want to give the Council any reason to change their minds and sentence him to death.

The crowd of chanting stopped when Nico spoke up. "I Challenge you Alpha, lets settle this between warriors. If you win, you can have our cargo. My guards will not stop you. If I win, your men return to the forest and will not bother us again. What do you say?"

The Alpha closed in on Nico with blinding speed, the guards unable to react until he was inches from Nico's face. Nico remained still and unflinching, the air around him radiating a sense of calm. Nico stood as the Alpha looked him up and down. Did the Alpha know he was a Crestborn? Nico did make that firewall earlier, but did they see him do it? Luckily Nico's crestmark was covered by the sleeves of his brigandine armor and his sword hidden in its scabbard. Knowledge makes the difference between life and death when it comes to holmgangs.

The Alpha smiled a grin that gives Nico goosebumps, a smile that screams trouble. "What makes you think you can stop me? A small Knight and five guards? And don't think for a second I didn't notice the girl in the back. If you're trying to die honorably in front of the girl, so be it, it won't matter in the end. You will still die. And after I kill you, I'll make sure she is taken care of."

Focusing on his breathing was all Nico could do to make sure his sword didn't react to his anger and explode in flames. He rested his hand on the pommel, making sure the elementium was not heating up. He had trouble in the past keeping his anger in check, and more trouble from all the fires his anger caused. He knew this Alpha was all talk no bite, but the idea of any harm towards Rosa still left his cheeks burning.

After a large breath, Nico replied. "Step back and pray to whatever god you worship, let them know you will be seeing them soon."

The Alpha laughed with his hands up in surrender, slowly walking back. Instantly the crowd of Hounds started chanting again, not words but sounds mimicking drums. "Wow! Big words little Knight, you ready? Let's start this holmgang!"