Chapter 33

Pino POV:

“Lakri? What do you mean the reason-” Before I could finish my sentence, another terrified shriek filled the air. My pupils dilated as my eyes honed in on the source of the commotion. Little Colada was held firmly in the arms of one of the Lakri as he slid his stone knife brutally across her small face, creating a jagged laceration.

I witnessed her go limp, her body likely sinking into shock as a small puddle formed on the ground under her.

All of us, from Thamil-to to Attila leaped forward, yelling indignantly rushing to tear those savages to pieces.

“No, no, no” said the man holding Colada, as he adjusted his grip on the knife, lowering the blade to her throat. This caused all of us to freeze mid-step, breath baited.

Although I’d barely known the little girl, both my modern and current heart refused to stand still as a child was mutilated and abused right in front of me. Through reddened eyes and gritted teeth I barked, “If you kill her, we will tear you to pieces and feed you to the lokin.”

The main culprit laughed, “Kill? Why would we kill her? She will fetch quite the price in the Golden Plains!” He exclaimed, a sickly smile on his face. “No… after I scarred her, maybe not so much, but I’m sure there will be work for her once the body of this sparkling grows into a flame…” He contemplated while looking her over.

Just the thought of him pondering the prostitution of a child caused my body to burst forth with a speed I didn’t even know myself capable of. I swiftly brought my body within striking distance before either of us knew what was happening. Barring my knife to his throat I roared, “RELEASE HER NOW!!”

He peered at me

Calmly, far too calmly for a man who’s life was in danger. “No.” He said

“They were our property to begin with.. Either sold off by their parents,” he continued while casting a wayward glance to some of the surrounding children. “Cast away by their husbands…” He smirked while looking in Shah-mi and the other women’s direction. “...disgraced Akii’s, owing so much the only thing of value being their flesh.” he concluded snarkily, throwing a look of reproach in the direction of Thamil-to

“However, I will admit… I had no idea I’d be facing much more than two boys and an old and weak man, on his way to the Ancestors… or whatever the hell you lowlanders believe in.” He spat.

“My kin and I could wipe you out, kill all the men and take the children… to be sold off to the highest bidder.” At those words we all tensed, I tightened my grip on the dagger, ready to rend it across his neck and end his monologue.

“..but,” he pressed on, “We would likely lose more than you are worth, considering the… unexpected guests.” he smirked playfully, as he slid his gaze from me to Attila and back.

“This is what we’ll do! I’ll leave, and when I return in mmm… three akigi, either you all will surrender, and accept punishment for escaping and killing our kin.” He said. Then after pausing his demeanour suddenly turned serious, killing intent rippling from his eyes. “Or, we will arrive with two bands of nine and one strong Lakri, and kill everyone here.”

Stolen novel; please report.

Sighing, he smiled again, the tension leaving his shoulders, as if he’d just released something heavy from his chest. “To ensure you don’t just scamper off, I’ll be taking this one with me.” He emphasised while scraping his knife along Colada’s neck.

Just as I prepared to throw caution to the wind, and make my stance on the situation known by slashing his detestable throat, two of the Lakri, all of whom remained eerily silent, stepped forward with their spears. Ready to pierce me if I made any move to threaten their leader.

‘Tsk tsk tsk’ came the reverberations from his throat, “Three akigi…” He reiterated as he and his men slowly retreated into the forest, before eventually disappearing between the trees.

As they vanished a loud roar erupted from De-lah’s mouth “FUCKKK! Why didn’t you stop him?! Why didn’t you stab him when you had the chance?! This is your fault!”

I was startled by the sudden accusations that’d been cast upon me. Sure, perhaps I could’ve dealt with the man holding Colada, but then what about the other four? Moreover a knife to the neck doesn’t kill automatically, there was always the chance that he took Colada with him before bleeding out.

While these thoughts whizzed through my head, De-lah was already charging at me, spear in hand.

My heart calmed and my eyes took on a cold light. I could understand his pain, his frustration, but I couldn’t continue to abide by his disrespect. If I was truly to lead these people or take on any leading role, I couldn’t have my authority constantly questioned.

I saw Attila shuffling, likely about to intercept De-lah, but a swift glare from me halted his actions.

De-lah was a bit more than a metre away from me when I dropped my knife to the ground. As he entered striking range, he pulled his spear back and adjusted his footing, poising for a strike. I watched it all with calm eyes, I’m no great fighter but I’d spent over a year in this body, joined with seventeen years of hunting experience from Pino before the merge. Suffice to say, I could take on a developing sparkling who can’t even properly cover his tracks.

As the spear approached my stomach, I dodged by deftly swinging my right leg backwards, and letting the blow fly past me. De-lah, in his anger, had put his full force behind the blow. Due to this, he ended up stumbling a few steps forward in his attempt to regain control over his weapon. Taking a step forward, I slammed my open palm onto the shaft of his spear, causing it to hit the ground. The vibrations of the blow travelled up the spear, and caused De-lah to release his grip. Taking the opportunity, I put more strength in my left leg and pivoted, pressing strength and speed into my right leg as it sailed towards his face.

The blow landed with a satisfying and dull thump as he dropped to the floor. Taking a step back, I reached to the ground and levied the dropped spear. Then taking large steps, I made it to De-lah just as he disorientedly attempted to regain his footing.

Leaning backward I heaved a heavy foot onto his chest and pushed him back into the dirt. Immediately after I pressed the spear against his throat, then I pushed it deeper, when I finally saw him wince, I knew I’d broken skin, so I stopped.

Growling I spit, “I understand your anger you have every right to be, but the next time you raise your weapon to me… I won’t stop until I’ve driven my spear through your throat. Do you understand?”

De-lah stared up at me with hatred, we held eye contact for a long while, but he finally looked down, conceding defeat. The problem was suppressed for now, but I need a permanent solution eventually.

It felt like an eternity, but the confrontation couldn’t have lasted for more than two minutes.

Turning to Thamil-to, who’d remained silently observing the entire confrontation, I said, “Well? It seems like you have some explaining to do.”

Thamil-to POV:

…

As I stare at it, arms to my side slumped in defeat, my eyes can’t help but glaze over. The place where I was raised, the place I started a family with my beloved, where I nurtured my children.

This is my house… as it was my father’s house… and his father before him. The house servants, they’d been under our banner since Banni City was founded. Loyal workers, less servants and more so family. We protected them, cherished them, gave them rights that are hard to come by for people of such mixed blood and strange origin.

“Savages” the other Akiis’ called them, barbarians from the hinterlands. No walls, no farms, no maths or writing… tribal to the extreme. My father never saw them that way… perhaps some fling or, or life saving moment altered his view. However the result, all the same, was a prominent family that embraced the dirt bloods, a family of “savage lovers”

The way that our equals viewed us never bothered me, they simply weren’t as far along the path as we were, ‘Knowledge is my brush, the world is my canvas, understanding is my work’

I recited the mantra of the Scholars while I let their words wash over me and my anger found its vent.

…but now, as these- these- two faced wyrms ransacked, pillaged, and burned the place that’d supported all of us for so long… no loyalty, no honour.

‘Mixed blooded… farland’ I thought as my anger bubbled to a boiling point “SAVAGES!!” I roared.