Chapter 17

All of it went faster than any one of us could imagine. From the time she sent that light, to the end of the explosions. Barely any time at all passed. And now we are cleaning up the rest of the trash.

The hostages are now under emergency treatment. I dare not think about what they’ve been through. Luckily, we found the key to their collars with the bastard that instigated all of this.

He screamed and threatened us until Rhea simply knocked him out. We dragged him inside and gave him the minimal treatment just so he wont bleed out on us. There’s still much he will have to tell us. Not to mention the payment for his crimes.

Even with all the violence. There’s a sense of pride and relief permeating the village. It’s the first time all these people could feel really victorious. It’s been years and years of abuse. And now for the first time, there’s a small bud of hope sprouting from all their hearts.

As I help drag the corpses to be burned. I watch as the small girl responsible for it all, silently helping with the cleanup. No doubt oblivious to what she just started here.

“Hey girl. Are you alright?” I ask her while she used her magic to clean the fields.

“I’m alright. Not much I can do about all of this now.” She told me with a tired look.

“Are you sure? You know you can talk to me any time, right?”

“Also... Thank you. For everything, really. My people owe you a great deal. More than you could ever know.”

This made her stop and look at me with a baffled expression.

“You owe me nothing. I did this because I wanted to. Because…” She slowed and visibly stuttered. “Because you guys… are important to me…” Rhea said with a tiny voice.

“Aww I knew you had it on you!” I rushed and grabbed her into a tight squeeze.

“Get off of me you gorilla woman!” Came the not so serious protests.

“Let’s get a move on. We still have to scout the forest and see if they left something in their encampment.”

“Yes. I really doubt we managed to get all of them here. If we don’t hurry on, they’ll loot their camp before we can.” Said the girl nonchalantly cleaning up the blood from the ground with magic. All around her, the blood just evaporated in a flash of light.

Many fields away in the distance. The tree line can be seen. Beyond that is our destination.

The nearer we get. The easier the signs of their previous habitation can be seen. A mess of cut up trees, crude tents, as well as covered wagons.

It seems the bandits expected to stay here for a while. To “process the goods”. They’ve even built multiple crude watchtowers. No doubt afraid of our night raids.

Arriving at the deserted and now mess of a camp. Rhea made a beeline directly to the largest tent at the center. Entering with her, we see a luxurious space with decorated furniture and tapestry everywhere. No doubt belonging to our little noble rat.

“What are you looking for?” I ask her.

“You can’t run an operation this size without the money to pay for it. He must have a stash somewhere we can use to buy necessities next time our people went to town”. She answered as she promptly began to turn over the furniture.

“Nice thinking. But instead of destroying the decoration. How about starting by the obvious over there?” I point at the back of the tent. where a small chest and a writing table made their presence.

“You’re right. Not to mean I can’t vent a little.” She spoke. Followed by a very ornate chair flying outside the tent and smashing itself into small pieces.

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With a smirk. She moved to the chest. And with a burst of light, it opened by itself.

“Look at what we got here. Quite a few coins. I have no idea on the value of money though. I’m a bit “sheltered” you see.” She said with a laugh.

“We can see that.” I tease her.

“These are silver coins. Quite a good value here actually. I imagine he could keep an operation this size for a few months with all of this.” I explain while grabbing a silver coin on my hand.

“These are mostly Vulpis kingdom coinage. But look here.” I point at a few of them. “These ones are Imperial coins. You can see it by the ugly mug stamped on it.”

“Is it a common occurrence?” She asks while rifling through the contents of the writing desk.

“I don’t think so. Not that we mess around very much with silver coins around here. Being pretty much destitute and all.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” She points at a letter in her hands. “This here is a communication between our little rat, and his financer at the territory capital. The very son of the fucking Viscount Hawken.”

“Wait. Really? All this shit was official!?” I almost scream at her. The thought of the very kingdom dropping all the pretense and coming at us directly is enough to make my blood freeze. What the hell would we do?

“Calm down. It really doesn’t look so. I guess this was some kind of conspiracy or powerplay at work. If the lord really wanted us officially. No way he would send these bunch of low lives. They would have sent the army and we would be toast.” Rhea calmly explains.

“Wait. Powerplay? Does the letter have a name? Perhaps one Godfrey Hawken?”

“Yes, that’s the one. Is he well known?”

“I knew it! Everyone around knows the bastard. As much as everyone is afraid of saying it. He’s the official heir, seeing as he’s the son of the first wife. But the last few years have been no end to rumors that he might lose his position to the son of the concubine, Gilliam.”

“That’s because instead of being an arrogant drunkard. His brother seems to have a good eye for business. No idea how they haven’t killed each other yet though.”

Rhea turned to a pensative look. “Hmm. Perhaps this can be to our advantage. It means this incident here will probably be all glossed over. No way he would send someone actually important to do this kind of dirty work. Also, it can be good for us if we somehow get his brother’s cooperation.” She continued.

“That’s assuming we have something to offer him though.”

“That’s the tough part. We aren’t exactly rich here you know.” I tease her.

We are then interrupted by my second in command entering the tent.

“Nice finding you both here. I’ve put the hunters to clear the camp. It seems they had more than enough food and supplies to last half a season. Which we will obviously confiscate.” She said with a suspicious grin.

“Thanks for the hard work. Anything you need us for?” I ask.

“Yes actually. I wanted to see if Rhea can help with her magic making a path for the wagons and horses. No idea how they managed to get it all here so far from the road.”

“Sure thing. Just let me finish with all of this and I’ll help you guys.”

The whole cleanup and pillaging of their camp, took most of the day. And with Rhea’s magic, you really wouldn’t know a bloody massacre happened around here just a few hours ago.

And thanks to our efforts. We now had multiple wagons full of supplies, that adding up to our stores, will easily turn us over till end of winter. Not to mention all the horses. We never had horses, as they are expensive. We’ll have to find a place to settle them though.

I hope we can have a good rest now. We are all dead tired.

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The trip back to town was mostly uneventful. Walking through the street, you could see the faces of relief. As well as the honest praise from those present. Which made me a little uncomfortable if I’m to readily admit.

I just nod and keep walking. Too emotionally and physically drained to worry about it now.

I arrive at my place of stay, the chiefs house. One of the bigger and better made houses in the village, in vaguely eastern style. The front garden is obviously being taken great care for. No doubt the handiwork from one of the house’s dwellers.

Speaking of said dweller. I’m almost hug tackled as soon as I pass the front door.

“You’re back! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?” Said Aida worryingly as she examines me all over.

“I’m fine. Never mind that. Weren’t you supposed to be helping the hostages? Some of them were pretty wounded.” I ask her.

“Elder sent me home already. Most of them have been returned to their families. And the worst cases are sleeping under her care.”

“I’m afraid their physical wounds weren’t nearly the worst thing they went through. And that needs the kind of healing way more complicated and time consuming than we can provide this quickly.” She spoke with a saddened look.

It was all it took for us spend a few moments while hugging each other in silence. No doubt commiserating about the day’s happenings.

That night. I helped her with dinner and we mostly ate in silence. Not wanting to delve too much into what we’ve seen. Layla arrived pretty late. No doubt helping coordinate her hunters and villagers.

As I laid there alone in my futon. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the lives I was forced to take today. No doubt it’s not the last time I will have to do so. Strangely enough. The fact that I’m so calm about all of this, scares me way deeper than the killing itself.

It then came to me. That I now had something to protect. And this made all the difference in the world.

Sleep didn’t take too long after that.