I woke up in a carriage, which jumped slightly on a hill. It was small, very small. Barely enough to hold one cage 2x2x2 meters, in which I was placed.
* “Really? A cage? It’s humiliating. I can understand that you may not like me, but this? I am not a fucking pet to be sold at the nearest market!”
* “Sorry for your discomfort.” One of the warriors said, but guessing by his tone he wasn’t sorry at all. “We will try to find you better accommodation as soon as possible.”
* “Perfect, a room with a view on the sea, pretty please.”
The man turned to me irritated.
* “Listen here, you little shit, we will reach our destination in two, maybe three days and those are your last days of comfort. So shut up, and enjoy it. Soon you will beg to get back to this cage.”
* “Aww, not liking me? What’s the matter, one of those guyz in the inn was a friend of yours?”
* “We all are brothers and sisters in arms. Such a monster would never understand that!”
I started laughing.
* “Oh, because YOU and YOUR group are so very special, ain’t you? How many brothers have you killed? How many sisters your actions send on the pyre? I told that to your commander already, but in the relationship that I and you are having - guess who is a monster? Who is a bandit? But what can I expect from brainwashed fools, dogs of the church? Have you ever wondered how much suffering you caused?”
* “That’s the difference between you and me. Yes. I wonder about that every day. Have I made a mistake? Have I sent an innocent to death? Every night, before I would fall asleep, I would hear them cry. In flames, I see their faces. And you? You didn’t even flinch. You just killed. This is why I am not expecting to hear your screams in my dreams.”
* “Sucks to be you. I sleep like a baby. Because unlike you, I don’t have to hesitate. But maybe that’s because I never killed an innocent? I wonder once again, where are we heading?”
* “Why do you care?”
* “Hey! Maybe I used to know some relative of inquisitor that will host me.”
* “Indeed. You did. You are going to castle Wergorn, the one located closest to the border, but that’s mostly because we want to get rid of you as soon as possible. And…”
* “Lucas. Shut up.” Miss commander finally interrupted. “Do you remember what did I tell you?”
* “Yes, commander, not to talk with prisoner…”
* “Do you know what you just did?”
* “I… violated your order commander.”
* “I am not talking about that. I ordered you to do so because of the reason. He is teasing you for a purpose. You have already told him the location where he is being sent, which he can use to plan an escape; the relationship between brothers in the order, which he can use taking hostages; that we will only escort him, so he would be only guarded by Inquisitors and witch hunters. Did you learn anything else?" She asked me.
* “Ah, nothing much. Only that you don’t really like the authority of the church over you, so you may react bit slower after giving an order. Nothing much, but combined with few other info I can be sure that you won’t chase me right away. Thank you, my dear idiotic fellow, you served me well.”
* “You little…!” he raised a wooden bat to strike me through the bars, yet he was stopped by woman again.
* “Why did you stop him?” I asked sweetly “I hoped to taste some more of the paladins' honor! I am sure that you have it in your credo to beat your tied prisoners, am I not right?”
* “Silence him. Even tied up he is still dangerous.”
With anger in his eyes, a fellow paladin took a piece of cloth as he prepared to shove it in my mouth.
* “Now, that’s where the fun starts! You like it rough? Me likey! Just before we would start – my safe word is p…”
He didn’t let me finish. That was rude of you, you know?!
Damn. I still don’t know enough, and that bitch made it impossible for me to get any more info. Think, think! What can you do? My control over mana was blocked. It is still there my mana bar was filled to maximum, but I couldn’t use it, it wasn’t responding. I couldn’t even make a bloody trick with disappearing coins. I can’t even morph my body, as shifting process requires mana manipulation in the cores to bring DNA from storage into my body. I can’t even communicate with the Sins to ask for ideas. So what could I do? All skills that require no mana seem working fine. As I can’t use any combat related skills let’s focus on what is left. Meditation and appraisal. Never underestimate the power provided by information. I will appraise every single weed and leaf from here to castle Wergorn, or whatever it is called. Sounds like castle ruled by an old fart with hemorrhoids. Here I come, old fart!
A couple hours later their little party stopped to quickly drop their unnecessary equipment which would only slow them down, as well as for fast cooking session.
* “Get rid of food that would get spoiled quickly. Smoke the meat… feed the prisoner.”
Ah, how very sweet of you! Few wouldn’t bother with feeding their hostages just yet! Once per two, three days, just to keep them alive they considered more than enough! You! I like you! I will kill you last!
* “What monsters like yourself eat? Hm?” A man who took clothes off my mouth asked.
* “Glad you ask. I have very strict diet! Virgin’s blood at Monday, steak made of child at Tuesday… you know, it so very delicate…. On Wednesday…”
* “How about roasted chicken?”
* “Only on Sunday!”
* “It is Sunday.”
* “Perfection!” I took a small plate from him “Can I ask for a fork?”
* “So you could open the padlocks or throw it in my eye? Sorry but no, be a good monster and eat with your hands.”
* “I truly am surrounded by savages.” I sighed with disappointment “And, to be honest, I didn’t think about using it to open padlocks. I mean, I am not really good at picking locks.”
* “So you thought about throwing it in my eye?”
* “I refuse to answer this question.”
The man chuckled.
* “You are a funny man. Who knows, maybe if the church wouldn’t order us to capture you, I would let you go.”
* “Same thing. If instead of ruining my life you asked me how was my day, I would bake an apple pie for you.”
* “You bake apple pies? So does my sister. Trust me, you have never eaten a pie as good as hers.”
* “Ho-ho-ho! You say that only because you never saw me baking! But I will challenge your sister with pleasure! What’s her name and where does she live?”
* “Sure, as if I would tell you. Sorry kid, but I doubt that you would live long enough to ever meet her.”
* “That would be best for you… and your sister.” I nodded with a sad smile
* “You too, Gorge? What did I tell you about talking with him? Once again. Why am I even working with you?”
* “Because I am so very handsome!” He started. I noticed right away that he liked her. Also that he considers her to be out of her league, yet it didn’t stop him from trying. Could I help him a little? Why not. Let’s have some fun!
* “And he is so very reliable!” I started “I mean – just look at him! This is the aura of a real man! Generous and humble!”
The woman looked at me with a sharp gaze.
* “Man of the year! Heroes of every fairy tale wish to be more like Gorge! Every woman would gasp in delight by mere looking at his manly, handsome cheeks! 10/10! If not those bars I would jump at him right away!”
Gorge-kun looked bit confused at first, but quickly he regains his posture and tried using similar jokes along.
* “Enough, both of you. Or you will get silenced. Again. Pack up. We are moving… and you” she looked at me “I have to admit that you react to being in custody bit different than I thought.”
* “HAHA! Custody! Nice word for the death sentence. Oh, sure that I am afraid to die. But, maybe I see death bit different than you.”
* “Elaborate.”
* “I won’t.” she looked both surprised and irritated. “There is no point in doing so. But death is not the end. It’s just another stage of your journey.”
* “You have the same philosophy as necromancers. When the day of my death would come, I hope to stay on the ground.”
* “Nature hates stasis. There in only one thing that would never change - that things will keep changing.”
* “I wish to hear nothing more of it. You are free to believe whatever you desire…”
* “Even if I would burn for that?” I chuckled
* “You are free to do things, but you are not free from consequences.”
I learned as much as I could from her.
* “EXACTLY! Remember your own words when someone would visit your precious little sick sister, as he would know what happened with me.”
* “You disappointed me. For a moment I thought that you were different. But in the end, you tried everything – to bargain, to threaten me…”
* “How many times have I asked you to free me? Better start moving. The night is approaching. You have no idea what wakes in the forest of dread in the night.”
I said as I raised my head sniffing the air. The air was blowing from the east. Nostalgia embraced me as I sensed the smell of old woods, of swamps.
* “You know?”
* “Yes. For this is the place I call home.”
* “Commander, are you sure we should travel through the forest in the night? We could have camped outside of the forest…”
* “And risk being caught my traveling patrol? We are close to the border. Military camps may be raised around here. No. I want to finish it as soon as possible. I have been too long in the enemy country. It’s a miracle that we weren’t detected.”
Few of those paladins could use some basic light magic. Dull wisps of light were floating around us working as torches. Somehow, this light was not attracting monsters. [The light that shows travelers a way to home, delivering them safely to their destination yet hiding from forces of evil]. I can’t say, useful ability.
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Foolish girl, you are far too vulnerable on reversed psychology. If your enemy would tell you to do something, you would do something reversed. This is why you entered the forest at night. Truly… foolish. But also just as I wished you to do.
I brought my palm to my mouth, pretending to cough few times, yet in that time I bite my hand. Drops of blood appeared on my palm, which I tried hiding a little by crossing my arms on my chest.
Now, the smell of blood is in the air. Now, just wait.
A wolfish grin appeared on my face as I awaited for predators to approach, lured by my blood. Come, children of the night, come, protectors of the forest. I offer you bodies of my foes, so answer my call.
The messenger jumped into the guild, pushed few adventurers out of his way. Few cursed him, but he couldn’t care less
* “MASTER JERICHO! WHERE IS MASTER JERICHO! I HAVE URGENT MESSAGE FOR MASTER JERICHO! DIRE MESSAGE FOR MASTER JERICHO!”
* “Stop yelling, you asshole! On the floor, in his office.” The man rushed to the stairs “That’s ok! No need to say thank you! ASSHOLE!”
The door to the office slammed open.
* “You better have something really urgent!” legendary adventurer said as he was about to press glass of whiskey to his lips
* “Sir, yes, sir! I was paid triple to deliver this letter to you! I was told it brings bad news!”
* “My foolish boy…” old man said taking envelope “There are no good news or bad news… there are only … news.” He said as he started reading “Damn. Those are really bad news! Terrible news! FUCK! You must be kidding me! DAMN! Why is this kid such a magnet for troubles?! CAN’T HE AVOID PROBLEMS FOR A MONTH!? FUCK!”
Certain Dragoness looked into the office
* “Everything alright?” she asked tilting her head.
Of course that everything is great, Gisele, your old man has just sent your boyfriend to an ambush, where he was kidnapped by the top paladin of the church. Right now they are already day away in direction of the kingdom, which means that in yet another day they would cross a border.
* “How to tell that… Um… Gis, I have to ask you to be calm… No wait, I will tell you in a minute. Just wait here.”
He quickly vanished into storage room with old equipment attached to his office and brought out a heavy chain.
* “What is that for?”
* “I am going to bind you, of course.”
* “W..WHAT? WHY?!”
* “It’s because I am more than sure that you will react violently after listening to me and rush into the night without a plan. And your action would probably make things only worse. Nowwww… don’t move, my love.”
* “You are creeping me out! Stop this! NOO!”
But the old man didn’t even consider negotiating that matter. He quickly bounded dragoness.
* “Now, listen and try to be as calm as possible. Don’t stop thinking. Sooo… apparently… there is such a possibility, that probably… maybe…once upon the time, Zari was kidnapped yesterday and is being escorted to the holy kingdom where he will die horribly.” Last part he said in one breath, making almost no pause between words.
Dragoness at first was looking blankly into nothingness in front of her. Then smiled for a second just to start struggling against the chains making whole room tremble
* “ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! UNTIE ME! UNTIEEEE MEEEE! WE HAVE TO HELP HIM! RIGHT NOW! BEFORE IT’S NOT TOO LATE!”
* “See? That’s what I was talking about. Where would you run looking for him? In which fort? Or maybe are you going to charge into the enemy kingdom and start destroying military outposts? And what if he was sent to capital? No, sunshine. We can do nothing. But I may know somehow who can. YOU!” he addressed the messenger “Keep an eye on her. I have to take my leave.”
* “YOU! YOU SEND HIM THERE! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?! COME BACK AND UNTIE MEEE!”
* “No, my little princess. And where am I going? To contact a Friend.”
* “WHY ARE THEY STILL COMING!? The light was supposed to repeal them!”
One of the warriors yelled as he cut down another warg that jumped from the shadows. Good, GOOD! The more they kill, the more blood is shed, the more blood is shed the more of them come, and then more are killed. Isn’t it magical? Rage leads to war, war leads to rage! Violence will cause only more violence. The question is who would lose their strengths first? Seven Paladins or endless hordes from forests? Place your bets, ladies, and gentlemen!
Amelia moved in, dropping under one of the beasts that jumped in the sky. She cut her its belly open as she was sliding under it, moved to the side just to piece another creature’s neck, perform a half-pirouette and with a fast slash from behind her head cut others warg’s head off. She panted few times. For now, an assault stopped. But only for now. Wargs moved fastest, yet now their bodies were generating even stronger smell. It was only matter of time for bigger creatures to come.
* “YOU!” she hissed in my direction “WHAT DID YOU DO?!”
* “Khajiit knows nothing! Khajiit is innocent of this crime! Sorry, it works better when I put my cat’s ears on.”
* “Aren’t you bit too happy?!”
* “Wouldn’t you be happy if you were on my place?... also, little Jack is behind you.”
In that moment a black panther rushed at her from behind. She slashed it in two with one fast swing
* “LITTLE JAAAACK! NOOO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!? HE WAS BUT A PUP!”
* “I will ask you once again, what did you, do?”
* “I told you that it would be dangerous to travel in the night. Buuut nooo! I am such a smart commander! Hur dur! Look at me, let’s travel in the night!”
She caught my hand and brought to herself revealing dried blood.
* “Opsie. You got me” I said with grin
* “You little….”
* “Are you sure you want to waste any more time?! There are few behemoth’s liar around, and its breeding season… they tend to be but more aggressive in breeding season.
* “MOVE OUT! Hold the formation! Andrew! Grab a crossbow and on the cart!”
The night was quite entertaining, at least for me, yet still, I was bit disappointed indeed, two behemoths approached, but I was expecting gryphon too. Well, apparently he hunts only during the daytime. Shame.
We traveled whole night and morning, and few hours after noon we went past fortified passage.
* “STAY RIGHT THERE! WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING!?”
* “Paladin Amelia Scarlet from Crimson Lily! I am back from the mission! Open the gates! I won’t stand in this God-forgotten country even second longer!”
* “I… I beg your forgiveness, my lady! We thought you would never return!”
Gates started raising
* “Do you need something, my lady? Supplies? Equipment?” guard asked as soon as we got into small fort
* “No. I want to part my ways with that fiend in the cage as soon as possible…”
* “B…but he has collar from white onyx and is tied up…”
She looked at him, all in sweat and dried blood.
* “It only makes him even more dangerous, for it makes you lower your guard. I learned it hard way. No, no food, no equipment, no ropes, no water. We won’t stay here to rest either. Open second gates.”
* “Y..yes my lady!” he only looked at me as on devil in disguise
* “Ciao!” I squeaked as cheapest hooker from docks “Come ‘ere and I will tell you a dirty little secret about paladin lady here you adooore so much!”
* “Welcome to the holy kingdom, we will take care of you.” He said leaning to the gates “I wish you safe travel, my lady. OPEN THE GATES!”
We moved to the country on the other side of Fort. The guard against before start looking something in his coat.
* “…My pendant, where is my pendant… I could have sworn…”
I whistled to him from the other side, when he looked in my direction I simply showed him a small silver necklace. I managed to see his angry gaze for a moment before the gate fall.
* “Are you serious? How old are you? Five?” Amelia asked
* “Hm? One year. Plus minus a month or two.” She just looked at me bit confused.
* “We will reach the castle in an hour. Whatever Goddess you worship, that would be a good moment to start praying. Soon you may forget words of your pleas.”
I only nodded.
* “Slashiz, beloved mother in the night, embrace your child with your gentle arms…”
* “Really? Reaaaally?”
If there would be a goddess of tits and wine, that would be Slashiz, devil of Heira raised into the position of a lower deity. Firstborn Succubus.
Indeed, we reached the castle pretty quickly. Walls were made of brick, yet were covered in white onyx.
* “This castle is called [Witch end]. No one who entered this place as a prisoner ever left it. Not even his body… Kid, I don’t want this, but I…”
* “… have no choice. Spare me your gibberish. If you want forgiveness, then no. I like myself and I certainly wouldn’t forgive anyone who did me any harm. You said that no one ever left escaped this place, hm?”
* “Yeah. It is impossible.”
Great, I can do impossible things right away, miracles take some time.
* “Name and cargo.”
Another guard. Oh crap, this one is even wielding equipment made of onyx. Life's a bitch. This will be quite the challan… WAIT!? I AM NOT A CARGO!
* “Amelia Scarlett. With abomination Zariel.”
Guard raised his eyes on me. I just raised my hand with saying [Ya-hooo]
* “Abomination Zariel. Responsible for killing 12 inquisitors, and 38 witch hunters…”
* “And four paladins…” Amelia added quietly
* “I am sorry for your loss, Paladin, may their souls find peace.” Then he looked back at me “Block S. For extremely dangerous individuals.”