A magnificent stallion galloped along the path in full speed; its mane flying in the air. Its hoof kicked the dirt back as its muscular legs moved vigorously. The white rings around its ankles swinged back and forth.

Ethan left Indran in that afternoon and rode for twin rivers in Midlake as fast as he could. Although madame did not brief him much about the book nor the man named Sahel, she said the book was an item of interest for many people. It was the most sought item on black market. Many had been searching the book but the rumours of it being in twin rivers came out just a week ago. And a week meant he was late. Before Sahel switched to another location or someone got to it first, Ethan must get it.

However he could not choose the fastest route to it. The closest would be taking Indran-southsail road then took a ship or ride north to twin rivers. He was a wanted man so he had to take east coast road and crossed cotton fields of Southwood village to go west. It took a day longer but finally he made it to the south of twin rivers.

The twin rivers were branches of Irra, the main river of midland. They flowed into the royal lake and gave life to the crown city. A jungle settled on the island between these two rivers. The mangrove trees bordered the jungle and the rivers. It beard-like roots intimidated everyone who tried to approach the jungle. Even though it was close to the crown city, not many people had set foot in there.

"You came for that jungle too?" The tavern owner asked in cold tone while pouring the drink for Ethan.

"I am. Considering how you sound, the others came before too."

"They did. It had been a whole week. Of course I am enjoying the business but considering the troubles I get from you guys, it is not worth it. So let me say beforehand, don't fight inside."

"I can't promise you that. I have to defend if someone tried to kill me."

"Fuck. Then at least don't break anything."

Ethan contemplated for a while then did not reply. He could not promise what he could not keep. The owner sighed heavily and gave up. Ethan felt sorry for the owner so he took his cup and drank outside. And to his luck, he happened to hear some rumours about the jungle through the window. Some men were whispering among themselves but they were so drunk, they did not notice that they were, in fact, speaking in normal voices.

"Hey, you heard that a group of adventurers entered that jungle and never came back?"

"Oh come on. It was only a week ago." The second man argued.

"Who would live in a jungle for a week? Not to mention the man-eaters, I heard there are many poisonous plants there. One breathe is enough to kill. I am sure they are dead." The first man strengthened his claim, "I heard some local called it 'the curse land' in the past."

The third man joined, "it is true. The reason adventurers going to it was because of that curse. I heard a handsome amount of gambers will be rewarded to whoever lift that curse."

"Damn. I won't go in there even if they gave me money. I like to be alive than get in there and died before rich."

After some eavesdropping, Ethan found out no one outside the shadow industry really knew the truth behind. It just made this mission more dangerous, Ethan reckoned.

Then he saw some drunks grouping around a girl as they yelled and harassed her. However Ethan was hesitant in helping her just like other men. Those men had weapons, meddling in would turn into a fight. As a wanted man he could not afford to get into another mess and blew his chance.

Although he told himself to not mind them, his conscience led his legs toward them. From the inside it said, "so what you got into trouble? You are a man living in misery. What more would be worse?"

"Hey losers. Never seen a woman? Don't you know how to court a lady properly? Go home and ask your mothers first."

He taunted the harassing men. As he expected, they left the woman and changed their target to him. Through the gaps he saw the face of the woman. She happened to be the girl he knew, 'Clara'. He rolled his eyes and regretted helping.

"She doesn't need my help," He thought to himself.

"Oh! What do we have here? A knight in rose? You think you are better than us just because you save her? I had seen bastards like you. You act like a saviour then humped on her ass at night. A fucking hypocrite!"

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Like arrows, the words pierced his body and hit to his heart. A scene of past visited to his mind; that night when he pulled out Leila from the carriage.

As rage filled up his heart, he approached the bastards only with one intention, to kill. His mind went whole dark. Before he stepped into ever-regretting never-returning dark world, he was saved.

Clara beat the non suspecting harassers from behind with her scabbard; each hit delivered them to the world of unconsciousness. Even those watching the scene from afar were shocked by her. They had never seen a woman beat men in an instant before. It was a spectacular scene.

Clara stroke the man in the middle first; it hit his occiput from the side. Then she immediately switched to the man in the right and hit him on his left side. From there she swiftly turned around and delivered the blow to the men on the left. Within a moment, she brought three of them down.

When the other two were shocked by her, Ethan recollected himself and sent a quick jab to the jaw on the man to his left. Clara took care of another.

"Amazing!!" A little girl who seemed to be a daughter of owner applauded Clara. "I want to become a strong warrior like you when I grow up!"

Clara smiled softly and gave a wink to the girl. She also returned a wink.

Ethan could not believe that the gloomy woman who said 'human are weak' back on the roof was this playful. He thought about it, she was quite merry before she went cold back then too. Just what was the true face of this woman, he thought to himself.

"Why are you here?" Clara asked Ethan coldly.

The sudden coldness sent the shiver down his spine.

"What? ... ... Ermm..madame sent me. Did she sent you too?" He stuttered.

"Why would a Templer work for a big woman who ran a shady business?"

"It happened. Anyway it seems madame wants us to work together if she asked us both. Do you have any information about the jungle?"

"No. And we are not working together."

"But the madame sent you."

"No." Clara rejected Ethan and quickly left.

Ethan tried to chase but the owner stopped him.

"Hey! You haven't paid for the damage."

The owner showed the broken pot. It was broken when Ethan punched that man and fell on it.

"Just take it from his pocket," Ethan pointed to the harasser who was still knocked out, "it was their fault anyway."

"And get myself killed when they wake up?"

Ethan sighed. He was in a hurry so he searched for some gambers from their pockets and gave him without arguing anymore. However he lost the sight of Clara after he finished.

"Tsk*" he clicked his tongue in frustration.

After some drinks, he resumed the mission. Since the jungle was thick, he decided to leave Rings at inn and walked there. Before he left, he warned the owner to take care of Rings; not to sell it or he would kill him. The poor innkeeper was intimidated. He nodded continuously like a lizard.

"My boy, I am sorry to leave you here. I won't be long. I will come back to you immediately. This man will take care of you in the mean time."

As if it understood him, Rings touched the forehead of Ethan with his head back. Ethan softly caressed to its neck and brushed its mane.

It was near evening when he left the inn and went to the twin rivers. It was a little far north of the inn and a small wood was between the inn and the rivers. Ethan sneaked around the wood so that he would not meet other groups. They were all competitors here. Soon he reached the river. However it was rougher than he thought.

"I can't cross here. Should I wait for a boat or get creative?"

He could make a raft by chopping some woods, it might take time but it would be safe. Or he could freeze some water with a spell and use the iceberg like a raft to cross; it would only took a while to make an ice-raft and he had played it while he was in Easton.

He could also make a rope and throw it over to the mangrove tree across the river then crossed like a monkey; or simply wait for a boat. Waiting a boat would be safest however he doubted a trader ship would let him on board and fishing boats from the crown city rarely came up here.

After much thought he decided to go monkey. With the vines lying around, he easily made a decent rope in a candle time and crossed the river.

At the first part, it was quite stable. Ethan was proud of himself. But when he reached the middle part, it went crazy. Suddenly the wind blew strongly along the river, wobbling the rope. Ethan had to stop moving so that it would not snap.

While holding onto the rope for his life, he accidentally looked down to the river. He saw two crocodiles waiting right below him. He believed he saw them smiling.

He gritted his teeth and grabbed the rope tighter until the wind calmed back. But the luck was not on his side. He felt the rope starting to rip apart in front of him. "I will be damned."

He took a deep breath and crawled quickly to the other side. It was a challenge against time. He had to reach the shore before it broke. However it ripped apart when he was still in midair. The suddenness made him held his breath.

Fortunately he had already crossed the point where the rope broke. The part he held swang toward the shore toward a big mangrove tree.

"Arr Rrrr..Rr.!!!" He screamed, in his mind. He could not let others hear his scream and gave his location.

He swang over the river, his feet just a little above the water. But the two crocodiles were a little late to catch him. The shore was right in front of him now. He prepared to land.

As he stepped on the shore, the third crocodile appeared from the blind spot and jumped to his leg. It spinned its body and tried to rip Ethan's leg apart. Instantly he also spinned his body accordingly. Thanks to his instinct, he kept his leg intact. But the crocodile dragged him into the water as it failed to chop his leg off. The other two were also coming to them.

"F*ck!" Ethan swore in desperation. He gathered all his strength in his belly muscles and sat up. At the same time he stabbed the dagger, readied in his hand, into the skull of the crocodile.

"Divination!" The blade of the dagger sinked through the hard skin then the skull. It died in an instant.

However the fight was not over yet. With the two swimming toward him, he had very little time to release himself from the grip. And to his surprise, the dead went into spasm as he stabbed the brain. He could not release the grip.

"God damnit!" He swore in frustration.

As the two man-eaters closed in near, he was still in the grip. In a desperate attempt, he took out the dagger back to fight. But he was too late. They had already reached him.

They jumped onto him. One to his thigh and another to his arms as they tried to rip apart his limbs.