Iridia’s legs parted into a drilled stance and she held her spear aloft to swing between the approaching figures from the darkness. There were three of them and that voice was unknown to her. “Who goes there?” Iridia’s eyes widened and she waved one hand. “Stay back, Morgan.”

The shadows were illuminated by the campfire as they moved cautiously toward the neophyte. Three dwarves, two held war axes and one a crossbow that was raised and primed in Iridia’s direction. “Put down the stick, girl.”

Iridia thrust it in the direction of the Dwarf who spoke as a warning. “I shall not, This camp belongs to the Paladin of Zale, I’d suggest you lower your arms.” Iridia’s legs were shaking, she’d never fought before, only trained with her father.

“You don’t look much like a Paladin, girl, where’s yer armour?” The same Dwarf spoke, it was hard to tell them apart, they were a stocky folk with bulbous noses and a frantic explosion of messy hair from chin to skull, the low light hid any recognisable features that may separate them.

“I don’t need armour to deal with–” she hesitated to bring up the confidence, parroting the insults she had learned from her new master. “To deal with a few filthy half-stacks!” she stepped back until she was pressed against the large oak. She glanced back to find Morgan but he had scarpered, what a coward she thought.

The dwarves cackled. “Venga, check that wagon, clean it out.”

“Alright!” One of the Dwarves darted behind and clambered in the wagon, it rocked from left to right as sounds of clinking and clanking emitted from the box, what a mess he was probably making.

“I’ll give you one last–”

The Dwarf grunted. “Shadaap! If you were a real Paladin you’d have done something by now, drop your spear or I’ll gut you!”

Iridia gave in to the demands, defeated with simple persuasion of strength, She reluctantly let her weapon go.

“Good girl, you’ll sell well too I think.”

“She’s not for sale.” Kaleb's voice bounced out from the surrounding trees, the two Dwarves near the campfire looked around and the third hopped out of the wagon to look around.

“Who’s that?”

“Ahhh!”

The Dwarves turned to the wagon to see the Paladin Kaleb carrying a stocky Dwarf by the scruff of his neck, he dropped him to the floor and pinned him down with a mighty boot. “Iridia, pick up your spear.”

She quickly did as she was told. “Yes, Paladin Kaleb.” For once she was happy to say those words.

The Dwarf with the crossbow kept it pointed at Iridia and what seemed to be the leader spoke once more. “Let me friend go you great ugly beast, or I’ll have your little pet nailed to this tree!”

Kaleb brushed the threat off. “That would be the end of you.”

“It already is! You Paladins are monsters, We’ll be out of here, let me friend go.”

“Your request is declined, all three of you are to be sentenced.”

“Did you not hear me?” The Dwarf spat angrily, no longer was he looking for a bag of loot but instead a way out, his desperation was turning to rage as exit strategies were thinning.

“I heard you, I do not believe you.”

“He looks serious.” Iridia held her spear strong.

“Drop your weapons half-men, or you will face repercussions, starting with this rancid thieving ferret.” Kaleb pressed his foot down and made the Dwarf writhe and squeal and call for help.

“Let me brother go Paladin and we will be off.”

“Your brother is now my property.”

From the darkness a fourth Dwarf stumbled out and groaned, She fell onto the ground next to the campfire and pulled herself to her knees.

“Found another lurkin’” Flencer appeared shortly after he spoke, his crossbow trained on her.

“Greta!” The Dwarf leader called and then looked at Flencer. “Flencer? What the hell are you doin’ hanging about with filth like these?”

“None of your business, Langry.” Flencer stiffened his grip on the crossbow and stepped a little closer. “Drop all your weapons.”

“If we do, your Paladin lover here will hang us all.”

“I will pull some strings, Kaleb will listen to reason if you just drop your weapons.”

“The only reason will be a hanging, Flencer, and I do think you’ll be joining them.”

Morgan appeared from behind Kaleb, had he been there all along? Iridia narrowed her eyes and stepped toward the leader Dwarf who held the axe. “The longer you try to keep this up the less chance you’ll have of living.” Iridia’s confidence had bloomed and she was somewhat eager to test her new weapon in battle.

Langry sprang toward Iridia waving his axe and clacked it against her spear. She didn’t expect it and in her attempt at a parry she stumbled and her back was against the tree once more, the Dwarf moved back and smirked. “Paladins won’t listen to reason, Flencer, you should know this.”

Flencer aimed his crossbow at Langry.

A drizzle threatened the fire and it hissed angrily, The flame dimmed and the Dwarf's eyes lit up with opportunity. Kaleb was already anticipating the Dwarf's considerations, the idea of this band escaping his justice was too much of an offence. “Your time is up.” he raised his steel greave and stamped it on the Dwarf's head, popping it like a bubble fleeing a bath.

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“Venga!” Langry let out a guttural cry of agony. “My brother, shoot the whore!”

Flencer turned his aim on the Dwarf bandit who held the crossbow and released his bolt, knocking him back and to the ground. Kaleb had covered an impossible distance for a man his size and was already in reach of Langry. He kicked the Dwarf in the chest, sending him reeling on the floor and that war axe spinning away.

“Foolish, half man!” Kaleb’s voice was monstrous, a roar of fury as he showed him little mercy. He grabbed Langry by the back of his coat and tossed him to the fire that engulfed his face in flames, Langry rolled around trying to put himself out.

Kaleb’s attention was drawn to the female Dwarf trying to crawl away. “Fleeing a sentencing is foolish!” He brought his hammer down on the back of her leg and she cried out in pain as it snapped under his mallet like a twig under a horse's hoof. She moaned and wept wildly before passing out from the horrific pain.

Kaleb was in his element now it seemed, Flencer watched in horror at the brutality he was capable of in such a short amount of time, offering the Dwarves no mercy. He picked up Langry using his singed hair and turned his face burnt face to look at him. “Over there!” He tossed him to one side and Langry cried and curled up in a ball.

Flencer approached. “Kaleb, perhaps–”

“Silence half man, sit down, or you’ll feel my wrath next.” Kaleb's eyes were wild with fury. “You have questions to answer, and I will be thorough.”

“My, lord!”

Kaleb snorted, ignoring Morgan's feeble call.

“My, lord!” Morgan was forthright this time, with a tinge of panic and a pinch of anger in his voice.

“What is it, boy? Can you not see I am busy? You must always interrupt–” Kaleb’s mouth fell open, how could he have been so careless? He darted towards Morgan who was kneeling beside Irida who was sitting against the great oak.

“Sh-she has a bolt in her chest.”

Kaleb pushed Morgan out of the way and sent him flying. “Iridia!” he cupped her chin and lifted her face, Her skin was pale and blood poured from her mouth that had pooled in the cavity between her lower lip and gum.

Flencer had moved up behind to look over Kaleb’s shoulder. “Through the heart, Kaleb, I’m sorry I didn’t get him time.”

“This is your fault!” Kaleb gripped Flencer by the throat and squeezed, a little cough eased out, but that wasn’t Flencer. He looked back at the Iridia. “Can’t be.” He pushed Flencer back and ran his thumb over her cheek. He moved his hand down to her chest and like a thorn from a palm he plucked the bolt from her chest. Blood spurted from the hole and her body wheezed with the release of trapped air. With great calm Kaleb placed his palm over the wound and stopped the blood. Morgan had rejoined Kaleb to watch, too worried to miss anything.

“Are you healing her?” Morgan whispered.

“No, I cannot heal others.”

Morgan looked at Flencer who rejoined Kaleb on his other shoulder.

“What are ye doing then?” Flencer was confused at this, the bolt had gone through her heart and no stitch or potion could cure this. Flencer’s face was wracked with guilt and sadness.

Langry was still weeping and rolling about in the dirt. “Tie him up, Flencer.” Kaleb scowled at him before his attention was returned to Irida. Slowly he moved his palm away from the hole in her heart. The blood had dried up and the bleeding stopped.

Iridia twitched, coughed and then sat up with a cry of pain. Blood splattered on the floor from her mouth and she fell back into the tree, clocking her head and passing out.

“She’s alive?” Morgan looked at Kaleb with a smidge of hope glittering in the whites of his eyes.

“Yes, incredible.” Kaleb licked his lower lip and stood up. “Abnormal.”

“Like you, Kaleb,” Morgan added.

“Yes, like me.” He looked over Iridia with a smile, perhaps he had underestimated this little Neophyte, Self-healing was rare, and the ability to get up from a hit like that was even rarer. Kaleb and a handful of others had this power, a perfect trait for a justiciar of the house of Zale who needed to bring down only the toughest men in the kingdom.

***

Irida awoke with a headache and a pain in her chest so intense she thought she might have been crushed by the wagon. “Ah!”

“Easy there, My lady.” Morgan dabbed her head with a wet cloth. “You’ve been out for about an hour.”

“What happened?”

“You died.”

“I–what?”

“Shot with a crossbow bolt through the heart, Kaleb pulled it out and you, well you are remarkable that’s all I’ll say.” Morgan dabbed her head once more as he inspected her with a slight awe.

Iridia sat up and patted at her chest, the spot was sore, She began to unbutton her shirt and then glanced at Morgan.

“Oh sorry, my lady.” He turned away and left the wagon to fetch Kaleb.

Iridia fingered the wound delicately, it was quite the scar but there seemed to be no damage other than that. Kaleb entered and moved in quickly. She pulled her shirt together to cover herself quickly.

“Let’s see, girl.” He pulled her hands away and inspected the wound, she didn’t much like being looked over like this. “Very good, you heal well, come, outside, fetch your spear.” Iridia didn’t expect anything less from, Kaleb, he was probably annoyed she didn’t die.

Iridia emerged from the wagon after ten minutes and approached the scene around the fire. She raised a hand. “W-what’s happening?”

Flencer, Langry and the female Dwarf were tied up around the tree with Kaleb standing watch over them. “Justice, Neophyte.” Kaleb smiled and waved his finger at the three.

“What did Flencer do?” She looked a little saddened, had her new friend already betrayed her? Was she this naive?

“Mmmf-mmm-fffmmm” Flencer had been gagged.

“Decided it was best to silence him lest his lies infect your judgement, I have all the evidence, of course you know this one.” Kaleb pointed at Langry. “I’ll let you spear him.”

“Please.” Langry groaned. “I’ll not make any more trouble.”

Kaleb slapped the burnt side of his face. “You will be judged!” He looked back at Iridia with a smile. “Now, to do a Dwarf, you go through their stomach. Their breast bone is stronger than the steel plate Torina forges, it’s why they don’t wear armour.”

Iridia looked at the Dwarf and then her spear. “I-I don’t want to, he’s unarmed, he should have a trial?”

“Iridia, we are the House of Zale, his trial is complete, his sentencing is clear, death, end him now, girl.”

Iridia stepped toward the writhing Dwarf who was tied to the tree. “I mean, all they did was try and steal right? Is that death?”

Kaleb cocked his head and raised a torn bit of paper, stained with blood and dirtied with mud. “Found this in his overcoat.” It was a wanted poster which he had torn away from a wall or a post at some point. “Little gang of bandits it seems, we can submit their heads for a reward at Brimshire.”

Iridia couldn’t argue with the evidence, she had seen them in action first-hand.

“Don’t forget, Paladin Iridia, he had you shot through the heart.”

“That’s because you killed my brother!” Langry cried and was swiftly slapped.

“Your brother chose to be killed! Like you, and you decided to kill a young girl for your mistakes.” He looked at Iridia. “Well, you tried to kill a young girl, you deserve death for being so incompetent.”

Flencer moaned. The female Dwarf was snoring fitfully, her leg a twisted mess, it seemed she’d die of her wounds.

Iridia held her spear up and pointed it at the Dwarf's belly, it jiggled with terror as he tried to wiggle free. She bit her lip, this would be the first man she had ever killed and it was not in battle, not defending herself, it was a Dwarf tied to a tree, She wasn’t sure if she could do this, if she could be a Paladin.