Chapter 7:

I instinctively looked around for the Stormbringer or, worse, Alaric Belton, but they were nowhere to be seen. It seemed that Axel Bane was alone.

“Relax.” he said calmly. “It’s just me.”

I couldn’t move as fear washed over me, as he straightened up and began walking slowly in my direction. My legs refused to react as my hands frantically searched for anything pointy I could use as a weapon. As if a stick from the ground would do any damage to him…

When he was just three steps away, he knelt on one knee and made eye contact with me. “You shouldn’t be scared of me. I’m not here to hurt you.” He said softly.

As if. I already knew which side he belonged to - no need to try and fool me.

He continued speaking as he noticed I remained quiet and untrusting. “If I wanted to kill you, don’t you think I would have already done that when I took the calcite from you?” he asked, a playful smile on his lips.

I finally managed to break free from the fear gripping my heart and spoke. “W-What do you want?”

He smiled. “To help you, of course.”

Morthryga’s heroes had already revealed their true faces in that treasury. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was just his sick way of having fun before he kills me. Either way, I wasn’t going to let him enjoy it. “Help me?” I asked, my voice firm. “By ending my life as well?”

He raised his index finger and shook it. “If you recall what happened, you’ll remember that I didn’t participate in anything that occurred in that treasury.”

I didn’t need to recall the events of that night; they were already etched into my memory. Forever. “You were a bystander.” I said, disgust in my voice. “You could’ve stopped them if you wanted.”

His gaze shifted between me, Ren, and the fire before he sighed. “Listen, I really meant it when I said I came here to help you, but the last thing I need is a thief preaching to me.” He said, his tone serious. “Last time I checked, you were the ones who infiltrated the kingdom’s treasury.”

I remained quiet. He was right in a sense...We were the thieves, and they were the heroes. It was just our personalities that didn’t match our roles in all of this.

“I don’t agree with the methods of my colleagues.” He continued. “But I recall Alaric being quite generous with you. He offered your leader the chance to surrender.”

Considering the reason we were there in the first place, Elandor’s history, and the extreme brutality the leader of the champions showed, I’m certain that if we had surrendered, we’d be tortured by now - or maybe even executed. “We would have ended up dead anyway.” I voiced my thoughts.

He sighed. “Perhaps. Perhaps not.”

I watched him, trying to read his facial expressions, but he seemed to control them so well that I couldn’t tell if he was being genuine or just an incredible actor.

“Anyway, the calcite...” He said, glancing at the stone in his hand. “Where were you planning on taking it?”

“Why do you care?” I snapped. “You already have it. Go bring it back to Alaric - I’m sure he’ll be happy.”

“Oh, I know he will.” He chuckled, pausing for a few seconds before continuing. “That’s why, for the time being, I’d like you to look after it.”

His words caught me completely off guard. He wants to leave the stone with me? But…why? I quickly shook off these doubts. He was obviously playing me. “Yeah, right.” I said, my tone laced with disbelief.

“Yeah, right.” He echoed, a wide smile spreading across his face as he tossed the calcite in my direction.

I was surprised that he actually threw it at me, but I managed to catch it with my right hand. I quickly scanned the stone to see if it was the same one we stole. If he thought he could fool me by giving me another transparent mineral, he was sorely mistaken. I had spent the past three nights analyzing the stone’s shape, both inner and outer. There was no fooling me on this one. After confirming that the stone was indeed the same one, confusion washed over me. What is going on?

He laughed. “Oh, your face right now. You should’ve seen it.”

I tensed up again, half-expecting him to strike me and take the stone back, just out of a sick sense of humor, but he didn’t. “So, I’m supposed to believe you suddenly had a change of heart?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I wouldn’t call it a change of heart since I never did anything against my convictions, but let’s just say something did change.”

“Something?” I asked, puzzled. “What?”

“Perhaps I’ll tell you one day.” He said, a soft smile on his face. “But today is not that day.”

“Why are you giving me the stone back?” I tried a different approach.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I just know that I can’t bring it back to Alaric.”

My questioning expression prompted him to continue. “First, I need to figure out if this calcite is what I think it is. It shouldn’t be, and still here it is…” He paused, looking at the calcite in my hand, before continuing. “Then, if it is what I think it is, which would be worrisome, I need to understand why it was in the treasury in the first place and why it’s so important to Alaric. You don’t know him as well as I do - not many things can get a reaction out of him. There, in the treasury, it might not have looked like it, but he was angry, on edge. I’ve never seen him like that. I’m not sure why yet, but I’d rather you keep the stone while I figure it out.”

“Why not just keep it yourself?” I asked, questioning his explanation. “You don’t have to tell him you have it, you know?”

He rolled his eyes. “Are you crazy? He’ll sniff this stone out from a mile away. I’d rather not have it when he does.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Yeah…you’d rather I have it while you figure things out…so I’ll be the one he kills…gotcha.”

He chuckled. “It does sound twisted when you put it like that, doesn’t it?”

It seemed like things weren’t peachy between the trio, but I didn’t care about their internal affairs. As long as I got to keep the calcite and make my way to Kase to complete Elandor’s deal, the inner relationships of the champions didn’t matter. “So, what now?” I asked.

“Just go wherever you were planning on going.” He said. “I’ll keep the other two bastards of your back for the time being while I figure out more.”

“Just like that?” I questioned this deal. There was no way that was it.

“Looks like I’ll have to gain your trust somehow.” He laughed, before reaching into his belt pouch. “Here, take this.” He tossed a small stone in my direction. It was the size of a fingernail and purple-colored. “It’s an amethyst.” He said.

“You want to stay in touch?” I asked as I picked it up from the ground beside me. Amethyst was the mineral used for long-distance communication. I’d never had the opportunity to use one myself, but I’d heard enough about them and had seen many guards using them.

“I have a similar one which is connected to this one specifically.” He explained. “If, on your journey, you ever find yourself in way over your head, use this stone to call for me, and I’ll come to your aid as quickly as I can.”

Was he trying to fool me? Why should I trust him and actually believe he’d come rescuing me like a knight in shining armor? But on the other hand, he had no reason to act the way he did if he wanted us dead.

“Just like that?” I questioned his motives this time.

He nodded. “Just like that. I’ll only do it once, though, so…try to choose your moment of need with caution.”

Yeah, right…I’ll believe it when I see it.

“Wait.” I said suddenly, recalling something important. “I can’t even use unrefined stones.”

He chuckled. “Then luckily for you – this one is refined.”

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“But it looks like a stone and not like – “

“A ring?” he asked. “Whoever spread that lie should literally be hanged…Refined stones go through a process called refinement, which has nothing to do with them becoming accessories or jewelry.”

Was I wrong all this time or was he lying? Maybe he wanted me to use the unrefined amethyst and end up like Ren. But then again, why would he go through all this trouble if he could’ve just killed me in my sleep. I couldn’t think of any reason aside from him just being wicked. Which was still highly plausible…

Ren! Maybe I could make him help her. “If you want me to trust you - heal my friend.” I decided to test my luck.

He looked at Ren, a sour expression on his face. “Sadly, I can’t.” he admitted. “I’m not versed in healing magic, and I lack the necessary mineral anyway.”

“I see.” I said, my voice laced with disappointment.

“Though, I can guarantee you from experience that a turquoise would help her. You just need to find a high-healer.” He added.

“Already working on it.” I replied.

“Really?” He looked surprised by my words and glanced around us thoughtfully.

“What?” I asked, not understanding his reaction.

"Never mind." He said as he shook his head. “I need to go. Alaric will want to see me soon. Get rid of the watch, Luca, and remember, not all the heroes of this kingdom are sadistic and despicable.”

He disappeared into thin air right before my eyes, and I could feel my heartbeat steady once more.

I wasn’t sure what to make of the entire conversation. On one hand, Axel Bane could’ve killed me at any moment, yet he didn’t. He even stole the calcite from my pocket, only to return it to me. On the other hand, he seemed to know things about the calcite and clearly had his own motives, and just because he sided against his leader didn’t mean he was on my side. He also knew my name…I wondered how. And he gave me an amethyst stone to call on him for help. Or perhaps it was a tracking stone so he could always follow us? Maybe I was being too paranoic…He managed to track us down without it, so clearly, he had his ways of finding people.

He told me to get rid of the watch. Elandor’s watch. Perhaps that’s how he tracked us in the first place. I gave Elandor’s pocket watch one final glance before throwing it into the fire. Our survival was on the line, and I couldn’t risk it because of sentiment.

While I was processing everything that had just happened, an eerie sound echoed from the woods - a beastly hum that froze the air in my lungs. A pair of red shining eyes glared from the darkness, and tension seized me. The creature emerged from behind a tree. At first, it looked like a wolf, but then, as I inspected it further, I realized it was something completely different. It was larger than your regular wolf and had two maws stacked on top of each other while its eyes were red as blood. Instinct screamed at me to run, but I couldn’t leave Ren behind.

Then, the dual-mouthed monstrosity lunged, and I rolled desperately to evade its snapping jaws. I watched it with apprehension, but before he could attack again, a spear sank into its flank. The creature, wounded and disoriented, retreated into the shadows, and as I caught my breath, Belferon stepped forward, emerging from the woods.

“Hopefully that scared him away.” He said, exhaling heavily, his gaze tense.

The firelight flickered off his slightly injured form. He was bleeding from his right arm.

With gratitude and concern, I rushed to his side. “Are you okay, Belferon?” I asked worriedly.

He raised his hand in a dismissive gesture, as if his injuries were nothing serious. “I’m fine.” He grinned. “I can’t say the same about his friends, though.”

“His friends?” I asked, puzzled.

“Yes.” He explained. “Dreadhowls usually hunt in packs of three. I could see them eyeing us for a quite a while, so I decided to attack them first. One of them got away and attacked you. It’s good I made it back in time.”

“Didn’t take you for a fighter.” I said, wondering how an eighty-five-year-old fought this monstrosities on his own. And win.

He laughed. “Don’t look at me like I’m a useless old man. I’ve faced my fair share of dangers over the years. It has taught me to always be prepared – and to carry some weapons for self-defense.”

It made sense he would carry weapons. I just didn’t expect him to take down a pack of these creatures.

“It looks like that dreadhowl stole your spear.” I said, disappointed.

“No worries.” He grinned. “I have more in my – “

“Backpack. Yeah, yeah.” I interrupted. “I should really just start assuming you have everything in there.”

“Well…Almost everything.” He laughed.

So far, Belferon has proven to be a helpful companion. I hadn’t fully trusted him up until this point, but if he didn’t try anything while I was asleep, then maybe I was just being too paranoid. I mean, he even saved us just now. And not for the first time…

I smiled at his words, relieved. “Thank you. For all your help.”

“Would you look at that?” He laughed. “I finally made you smile.”

***

After I helped Belferon tend to his minor injuries, he went to sleep while I remained on watch. The tension from the possibility of encountering more dreadhowls kept me on edge, but the entire watch was uneventful.

When dawn came, I couldn’t help but feel excited. I watched Ren’s unconscious form and used the fluorite ring to focus on her heartbeat. Just a little more…hang in there. At some point my nerves got the better of me and I rushed toward Belferon to wake him up - earlier than we’d agreed upon. “Wha-What?” he mumbled, half-asleep.

“You told me to wake you up a bit early today.” I lied, hoping his age would make him believe that was the case and that he’d just forgotten.

“I did?” he asked, puzzled.

“You did.” I insisted.

“Well, if you say so.” He agreed and stood up sheepishly.

He began stretching - his usual morning routine - then prepared some green tea for both of us, warming a small metal kettle full of water on that metal tripod of his. After we finished the tea, I helped him pack everything, and we continued walking in the direction of Vedem.

The road ahead was muddy, full of puddles with murky water that reflected the morning sun. The woods on either side were dark and dense, their mostly bare branches still dripping. It hadn’t rained last night, but that didn’t seem to matter. Despite the dampness, the air felt fresh, filled with the scent of wet earth, leaves, and wood. It was cold, and every breath we took was visible as mist escaping our mouths.

And then, without warning, the serene atmosphere shattered. Rugged figures emerged from behind the trees, encircling us with practiced ease. I instinctively came to a halt. Belferon, on the other hand, engrossed in his philosophical musings, seemed oblivious that we stumbled into an ambush.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here, boys?” one of the men said, his voice joyous. “I think it’s our lucky day.”

The man, who I assumed was their leader, was young, with short brown hair and a large scar that spread across his left cheek. Their entire group’s appearance spoke of a hardened life in the wild – emaciated figures, ragged clothing, weather-beaten faces, and a collective air of desperation. Their numbers were not in our favor; a group of six, armed with an assortment of rusted weapons, including one crossbow.

“What do we do?” I whispered to Belferon, hoping he was used to stumbling upon robbers and bandits and had a plan prepared.

“Bandits this close to the village?” he wondered out loud, before addressing their leader. “You must really be desperate.”

“Shut your trap, old geezer.” One of the robbers behind us said impatiently.

“You seem well-traveled, old man.” the leader scoffed, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Then you must know how it goes: you kindly give us all your valuables, and we kindly let you go.”

I looked at Belferon with hopeful eyes, but he remained silent. He must have a plan, right? I can’t give these highwaymen the calcite. Or even the tourmaline. The tourmaline, of course! I could use it to teleport us all back to our last camping site, for example…but I should only do that as a last resort.

The tense silence was suddenly interrupted by the same bandit behind us who had spoken earlier. “Hey, Jhad!” he yelled, seemingly addressing the leader. “Look, they have a girlie over here!”

Goosebumps rushed over my skin as their entire group suddenly shifted their attention to Ren’s sleeping form in the cart I was pulling behind me.

“Is that so?” The leader, Jhad, said with a malevolent grin on his face. “Is she any pretty?”

I tensed, ready to lunge at anyone who even tried to reach for Ren.

“She looks nice. Young one too.” The bandit behind me answered. “Why is she asleep? Hey, wake up, girlie, girlie.”

My hand immediately reached for the tourmaline ring in my pocket.

“No sharp movements, or I’ll shoot!” A bandit to our side, the one with the crossbow, threatened, his voice tinged with nervousness.

“Get her here, lemme see her face.” Jhad chuckled.

I turned around slowly to face the bandit who was approaching Ren. He looked a bit weakened, his face weathered. He held a rusty sword in his right hand, and I wondered if I could overpower him and take the sword away. But even if I could, the one armed with the crossbow would probably just shoot me. He already seemed on edge.

As the bandit drew closer and I prepared to jump on him, and then immediately dodge the possible crossbow’s bolt, Belferon’s words stopped him in his tracks. “I wouldn’t try that if I were you.” He grinned. “Those two are under my protection.”

The bandit looked unimpressed and was about to advance, but then a sudden sound – the snap of a pulled string and the whistling of air - pierced the area and him. An arrow struck him squarely on the right shoulder, and he dropped his sword, groaning in pain as he reached for his wound. The entire group was suddenly on high alert, unsure whether to focus on us or the source of the arrow.

“Who’s shooting at us?” Jhad shouted, his voice tense.

“I don’t know!” The bandit with the crossbow yelled, panic in his voice as his eyes darted around the woods, searching for the shooter.

I glanced at Belferon, searching for answers. He caught my gaze and grinned, as if he knew exactly what was happening. “Don’t worry, lad. We’re protected.”

Then, more arrows struck the bandits. Some hit in the shoulders, others in the arms, but all of them fell to the ground, writhing in pain. The arrows were precise yet not deadly, as all the bandits were still alive. I also assumed they were likely coated with some toxin, as the bandits couldn’t make any sharp movements or stand up straight away.

I searched for the origin of our saviors, and they didn’t keep us waiting. Two figures emerged from the woods: a man and a woman, both likely in their twenties. They walked toward us, carrying bows in their hands and quivers on their backs. The man had short dark-blonde hair and light green eyes. He was tall and had a sturdy build. While the woman, with long black hair tied in a single tail, had a pair of captivating blue eyes. She was relatively short but appeared to have an athletic build.

“Would I be damned if it isn’t Belferon!” the man exclaimed joyfully.

Belferon looked ecstatic as well. “Walden! Lida! It’s good to see you both.”

“Just a sec, Belferon.” The woman said and the duo immediately and expertly began disarming the bandits. They tightly tied each bandit’s hands and feet, leaving the rope around their feet slightly loose to allow minimal movement. Then, they covered their heads with some black fabric bags. There were zero wasted movements in their entire act, making it clear that they were well-trained in what they did. Once they were done, with all the rogues securely tied, they approached Belferon and me and hugged the old man.

“This is Jared and his sister, Eva. I was accompanying them to your village.” Belferon introduced us.

To their village? Does it mean we’re finally here?

“Nice to meet you, Jared.” The woman, Lida, said, a welcoming smile spreading across her face. “What happened to your sister?”

“She’s sick.” I answered nervously, hiding the truth. “She needs to see a healer.”

“Then you’ve come to the right place.” The man, Walden, said, extending his hand, which I shook. “Our healer, Vera, is well-known around these parts. She’ll gladly help your sister out.”

“We’re with the local guard patrol.” Lida added. “Welcome to Vedem.”