“Everyone’s accounted for Grandmother,” the young man said to Nann.

“Good. Thank you Brandom. Please head back down to let everyone know all will be well, and to keep an ear on the tunnels. If you hear something odd, come get me,” Nann said to him.

The young man nodded heavily, and then hurried down the stairs. Into the lit up cellar beneath. There wasn’t anyone else in the cellar, but I could hear the voices of those not far from it. Down one of the several hallways that ventured deeper into the tunnels.

Nann sighed as she went to close the cellar door. It was a heavy wooden one. The type of heavy that a normal human would struggle with.

I shifted as the door clanked shut, and the Weaver turned to glance at me and Nasba. We were standing a few feet apart from each other, and I wasn’t really sure what to say or do.

Vim had run off. To a nearby section of forest. Pursuing a horse that looked like it had been heading somewhere it had a reason to run to. Likely to a person.

The fact he hadn’t returned yet told me he had found something, or someone.

“Mercenaries,” Nann said to us as she stepped away, to head for the main hallway.

“They’d joined a band, supposedly, yes,” I said.

It hurt so badly to admit it, to say it, but it was the truth.

The humans Vim and I had met, on the way here, had joined a mercenary band and attacked us.

“Why would a band attack us?” Nasba asked.

“I’m assuming your friends hadn’t known, Renn. He had frozen at the sight of you,” Nann said.

I nodded as I glanced at the sword in her hand. It was a large one, flat and thick. It reminded me of Nasba’s tail feathers, when she had them folded as tightly as she could. It was more like a block of sharp metal than an actual sword. Though it had obviously not been any less effective.

Reaching the main hallway, Nann glanced at me. She had wanted me to answer with more than a simple nod.

“I don’t think he had known either, no,” I said, feeling horrible.

Nann smiled at me with a gentle look and nodded. “If you wish to hate me, it is okay,” she said.

“No…! No… It’s not your fault. I’m sorry,” I said as I blinked watery eyes.

“Can we do this later…? I know Vim’s probably killed most of them off, but still,” Nasba said stiffly.

Shifting, I grabbed my left elbow and squeezed it. Nasba hadn’t likely meant to make that feel like a slap in the face, but it had all the same.

“My daughter-in-law is as callous as ever,” Nann said.

Taking a small breath, I shifted and glanced at the duck. She was looking away… in shame. Though likely not for what she had said, but her mother-in-law’s comment.

“While running around with Vim, did you happen to see how many bodies there were?” Nann then asked me.

I nodded. “Twelve. That I could see. Eight horses,” I said.

“Hm… not as many as I’d have thought. But a sizable force all the same,” Nann wondered.

Was it?

This place had dozens of buildings. Big ones. There were over sixty people that lived here. It seemed foolish to attack such a community with so few men.

Though they might not have intended to take this place over… It had seemed they had attacked in two groups. The one that Vim had faced and the ones who had originally intended to break into this building.

When Nann had killed Martin and the other man, the three others had jumped on their horses and ran off. They hadn’t even tried to enter the house. They had fled upon seeing their comrades die so swiftly.

I’d dub them cowards, had I not been just as shocked at Nann’s ferocity. She had killed both men before the glass from the broken window had even settled.

Nasba and I had followed Nann to the sound of them breaking in… and upon rounding the corner, and entering the larger room where Nasba gave her lectures, the two men had startled at the sight of us. Martin especially. He had frozen completely, upon locking eyes with me. The other man had his head cleaved in, and Nann had stabbed Martin through from the back. He hadn’t even realized she had stabbed him, I don’t think.

“Do you think someone in the village had anything to do with this?” Nasba asked the Weaver.

“It’s possible. But I doubt it. If they’re just mercenaries they likely saw an opportunity and took it as they passed through. Under a normal situation, that many armed men willing to commit such violence could have done quite some damage,” Nann said.

I nodded. Yes. They could.

“Hadn’t there been another, Renn? That girl?” Nasba asked.

Gulping an itchy throat I nodded. “Elisabell… I didn’t see her amongst the bodies earlier. But she wasn’t a real mercenary. She was even looking for a husband… because she knew she wasn’t cut out for it,” I said.

“Pity,” Nann said, and Nasba nodded in agreement.

Yes. It was.

Nann walked away for a moment, to go stand near one of the larger windows near the front door. She stared out it, standing calmly.

She was used to this. She wasn’t rattled at all.

Though the only reason I was so disturbed and shaken… well…

Nasba sighed as she crossed her arms. “Least Vim’s here to handle it,” she said.

“Yes. We’d have lost a few children otherwise, likely,” Nann said from her perch near the window.

Shifting, I wondered how true that was. Nann had seemed to be very deadly. And Nasba hadn’t been scared either. She had joined me in following Nann… although we hadn’t needed to fight, something told me Nasba would have been just as willing and deadly as her mother-in-law.

Though I guess the two couldn’t be everywhere at once. And under the cover of darkness those men might have been able to hurt several people before Nasba or Nann got to them.

Nann tilted her head, and I noticed movement beyond her. In the darkness out in the courtyard. I stepped forward, to see it better, and relaxed when I saw one of the horses. It was walking across the path around the garden, to reach the garden. After a few moments it paused, to graze at the grass.

“Hm… we had been needing some more horses,” Nasba said gently as we all watched it graze. Glancing at her, she frowned at me and shrugged. “What? We do. It’s time for some fresh blood,” she said.

Nann sighed. “Had Vim killed one? I smell the blood of a horse,” Nann asked.

“Oh. Yea. I think so. One was lying on its side, near the bodies. With a sword stuck in it,” I said.

“Vim’s mean sometimes,” Nasba commented.

Was it him being mean though…? I doubted Vim actually wanted to hurt the horse just because he could.

I gulped as I realized it was the same thing. Just like Martin and Elisabell.

Vim, Nann, the rest… they didn’t really want to kill them. But they had to. We had to.

I sighed as I realized that Vim would likely end Elisabell’s life the moment he found her. Regardless of any circumstances.

The thought made my eyes water… so I tried to ignore it.

Tried and failed.

Doing my best to not grow too emotional, I focused on my tail. It was twitching rather wildly, and it was a good distraction. I focused on it, doing my best to calm it down.

Then Nann stepped back, and raised her weapon. Nasba startled, her feathers making noise as she turned quickly to see what had alerted Nann.

Holding my breath, I waited expectantly as someone stepped into the building.

Vim entered the building, sighing as he looked around. “Everything okay?” he asked.

Nann nodded, lowering her sword as she relaxed. “Family is fine.”

“I found five more. From what I can gather, we’ve got them all. But there’s another group waiting. Near the village. At their camp,” Vim said.

“Go handle them then?” Nasba suggested.

I shifted, and noted the way Vim’s eyes stayed on Nann.

He nodded. “I plan to. Just wanted to make sure all is well here first.”

“It is. Get going then. I’ll approve of no egg breakers,” Nann said stiffly.

Vim smiled and nodded. “Neither do I. Nasba, why not get some of your more able-bodied sons and go deal with the bodies and horses. I left one of the horses staked near the trees where the others are, so you can find them easily enough. I suggest burning them… none of them seem sick, but you never know,” Vim said, finally looking away from Nann.

“Sure,” Nasba nodded and turned around, likely head for the cellar.

Shifting a little uncomfortably, I wondered if now was a good time to ask or if Nann would feel insulted.

“How’s it feel to get the blood pumping, Nann?” Vim asked, once Nasba left the hallway.

“Pumping? Please,” Nann scoffed.

He smirked and nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t catch them before they got here,” he then said.

She waved his apology away, in a way that told me she genuinely didn’t mind.

“A few of them were actually very good. One particularly was… notable. Have Nasba and the rest check them for any flags or emblems. I’m assuming I’ll figure out more once I get to their camp, but you never know,” Vim said.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Of course. If this isn’t their whole band, you may be making a side-quest before heading back north,” Nann said.

Oh boy…

Vim nodded. “Likely. Like I said a few of them had been very seasoned. This wasn’t just some opportunistic bandit group. Though I don’t think they intentionally targeted your home, Nann. Two of them were very vocal as they died. This had not been something they had originally planned. It might have been a spur of the moment thing,” Vim said.

Oh…?

Nann frowned and shifted her sword. It made an odd noise as it brushed against her dress. “Simply snuff them out, Vim. I care not for their excuses.”

Vim nodded, smiling gently at her. Then he pointed at me.

“I’ll be taking Renn. If you don’t mind,” Vim then said to Nann.

The Weaver turned and glanced at me. I went still, and felt the tip of my tail twitch.

“Probably for the best. Though I don’t like the idea of you forcing her to do something she doesn’t wish to do,” Nann said, while staring into my eyes.

I gulped.

“I’m not taking her to force her into battle. I simply wish her to see something,” he said.

Nann sighed and tilted her head at me. “Do you wish to go Renn? He’s likely trying to teach you something… but it might hurt,” she asked with a warning.

Blinking at her sudden gentleness… I slowly nodded. “I’ll go. I’m… bothered, Nann, but I’m not angry. I’d never choose a human over any of you, any of us, but… I’m shaken a little at how surprising it had been to me,” I admitted.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Vim’s soft smile. I wanted to smile back at him, but Nann held my attention as she stepped towards me.

“I’ve had to slay many friends over the years. I’ve even had to kill my own flesh and blood. It’s never easy. Don’t feel bad for not being callous enough to ignore it,” Nann said.

I nodded, and wasn’t sure what to say in response.

“Let’s go then, Renn,” Vim said.

“Should she not get her sword? You had one when you arrived, had you not?” Nann asked. “Actually why’d you not go get it earlier, Renn?”

“It’s blunt,” I said as I stepped around her, to follow Vim out of the building.

“Is it now…?” Nann spoke oddly as I waved goodbye to her, and followed Vim outside.

Hurrying to follow Vim, as he headed away from the main building and to the nearby field over the hill, I took my spot next to him.

“Even a blunt blade is deadly in our hands Renn, don’t forget that,” Vim said.

“Well… yeah…” I nodded and admitted it.

He glanced at me, and smiled softly at me.

Holding his gaze, I smiled back at him.

Reaching the top of the hill, which was a smaller mound in this area, Vim slowed to a stop.

I stopped as well, and glanced around. Nothing seemed different than when I had been out here a little bit ago.

Vim then coughed and drew my attention back to him.

He gestured lightly at me. “Stand tall, Renn.”

I nodded. “Stand tall,” I agreed.

Vim hesitated, and then sighed. “Yeah… well… I mean it. This time,” he said.

Frowning at him, I nodded. “Me too…? I mean what I said back there, Vim. I’m bothered, but not angry. I wish it had gone differently, but…” I said.

“Yeah… well…” Vim sighed and then nodded.

Oh… wait…

“Vim…” I realized what he was likely implying, and he frowned at me… and then nodded.

“Her too…?” I asked softly.

“Hm… you’ll see,” he said and then stepped forward, heading for the tall grass.

Groaning, I did my best to keep my eyes from welling up too much with tears.

So he had found her. Elisabell.

Just great. I almost wish he hadn’t told me. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.

But yet at the same time…

I needed to see her. Her body. Even if it hurt.

At least by confirming she was dead I’d not need to spend the next few months stressing and imagining the poor girl alone, suffering horribly since we had taken her brother from her.

Following Vim, we entered waist high grass as we left the Weaver’s Hut area. Off to our right was a large field of wheat, but here it was just grass. Plains grass. I wasn’t sure why they didn’t convert all this into fields of food too, but it was likely on purpose. Probably as to better blend in and hide.

Heading for a patch of thick trees, I hesitated as I followed Vim. I could smell blood now.

The tall grass eventually became thinner… then it died down to ankle-high grass. Passing some trees, I followed Vim to where several horses were tied up. Their reins were tied to the trees, and…

Coming to a stop, I felt my tense shoulders slump at the sight of her.

She startled at our approach, and stepped back a few steps from Vim as he walked past her. She opened her mouth, to say something… but Elisabell’s voice didn’t come out. She was too scared to speak.

Not far from her, near the horses, were bodies. Dead men and women. I didn’t spend much time looking at them, since Vim hadn’t killed them cleanly. One had his arm torn off. Another had been cleaved almost in two.

“R-r-r-renn…!” Elisabell finally stammered my name, upon noticing me.

Taking a deep breath, I shivered… and prayed to Vim that he’d not make me kill her with my own hands.

I had never believed he would have made me do such a thing… but still I feared it. Still I dreaded it.

Because I knew it’d happen someday. Whether I wanted it to or not.

My stomach churned as I realized it might be today. Right now.

“She’s going to take us to their camp,” Vim said as he went to one of the trees, where three horses were tied together.

Ah…

I gulped and finally stepped forward. Elisabell turned from me, to Vim… and shook some more. As if terribly cold.

She didn’t look hurt… but she was trembling as if she were. She was holding her arms closely to her chest, and looked pale.

“Are you hurt, Elisabell?” I asked her.

Her head spun around, to me, and she almost fell down because of it. Quickly shaking her head, she mumbled a bit… and then took a deep breath. “Uh…uh! Um… No…! N-no,” she stammered.

Letting out a tiny sigh of relief, I glanced at Vim who was guiding a horse over towards us.

He ignored my stare, and I wondered what to say or think.

He hadn’t hurt her. He hadn’t killed her.

Yes… I knew he was keeping her alive for a reason. Using her for information. To have her guide us to her fellow mercenaries… but…

Did he really need her? If their camp was near the village, Vim would likely be able to find it without much trouble. It wasn’t like this area was too dense of a forest. Especially once you neared the river the village was built next to.

Elisabell shifted, and made a tiny whine as Vim drew near with the horse. I watched the way she stepped backward, and once again almost fell over because of it.

The girl was horrified of him.

She didn’t seem hurt… nor was she tied up or anything either.

She could have ran away while Vim had come and got me, and checked on us. Yet she hadn’t. Though based off the way she was frozen in fear, it had likely not been because she didn’t wish to. Or hadn’t thought of it.

Vim must have terrified her something fierce.

She hadn’t even noticed my ears or tail yet, for crying out loud.

The horse shook its head, as if disturbed by flies, as Vim stepped around it and faced us.

“Let’s go then,” he said.

Elisabell made a noise. One that was an obvious whine of discomfort. I stepped forward, and glared at the man who was basically tormenting the poor girl.

“Vim…!”

My companion glanced at me, with eyes of understanding knowing. “Renn,” he responded.

Elisabell glanced at both of us, her breathing became quick and sharp as she kept glancing between us.

“Come on now. On the horse you two,” Vim then said, patting the horse’s side.

Sighing, I glanced at Elisabell. She stood up straighter, her eyes going wide at my glance.

“Let’s go Elisabell,” I said to her gently.

She sniffed, and glanced at Vim… then looked away from him as if she had just seen something she shouldn’t have. Then she nodded, and stepped over to me.

Vim held the horse’s reins as I stepped over to him. He helped me up on the horse, and I found the saddle was bigger than expected. Perfect for two people at once… or a single, large, man.

Before I was even settled, Vim grabbed Elisabell. She let out a tiny little cry of shock as he lifted her up, almost tossing her over the horse.

He put her in front of me, and I quickly went to holding her. To make sure she didn’t slide off the horse on accident. I wrapped my arm around her waist, and immediately noticed the terrible shaking.

How was she even trembling this harshly? She was acting as if she had just fallen into a lake of ice.

Vim sighed, and reached up to hand me the reins. I took them, but made sure to keep my arms around Elisabell… just in case. The poor girl was shaking so much I had no doubt she’d fall off if I wasn’t careful.

“Follow after me, Renn. But make sure to keep the horse at an even pace until we leave the field and reach the road,” Vim said.

I nodded, and realized that I was able to see over Elisabell’s head. Not because she had suddenly grown shorter… but because she was crouched and curled. As if trying to turtle into herself, and hide.

Vim nodded back, and then stepped away. I made a clicking sound with my tongue and squeezed my thighs, to draw the horse’s attention. It turned after Vim… and without me needing to actually usher it, began to follow after him.

The horse strode at a good pace, following Vim into the tall grass. Vim ran ahead of us, far enough I didn’t need to worry about him suddenly stopping and hitting him, but near enough that the horse obviously knew where it was supposed to go. Even when Vim turned a little, taking us up and over one of the hills the horse followed dutifully without me needing to pull or tug on the reins.

“I’m sorry, Renn.”

I blinked, and squeezed the reins and the girl’s waist… as I realized who had spoken.

She sniffed… and lowered her head even more. “I’m so sorry,” Elisabell cried.

My own face contorted and scrunched, as what little levity I had been doing my best to keep up disappeared. I sniffed as I nodded. “It’s okay, Elisabell. It’s okay,” I said softly.

She made a whine of a noise, and I knew what her heart was saying in response. Since my own heart agreed.

It wasn’t okay. It wasn’t okay at all.

But I was going to find a way to make it so.

Or at least try to.

“I’m sorry,” Elisabell cried again, a little louder this time.

Blinking watery eyes as we left the field of grass and onto the dirt road that led to town… I patted the girl’s back.

She was shaking violently. It’d not surprise me at all if she puked, based on how badly she was crying and shaking.

I knew how she felt. I’ve been there before.

I’ve endured that same disgust. That same sorrow.

And I knew how it felt to have absolutely no idea what to do. I knew how it felt to be hopeless. Without any ability to change anything.

Which was why I related to her more than I should.

“Deep breaths Elisabell,” I said gently as I rubbed her back.

The horse wasn’t trotting to hard that I worried over her, or myself, biting a tongue or falling off… but I was glad she wasn’t talking too much. And I was glad that Vim was seemingly willing to ignore her.

Though… had he?

Did she know? That her brother was dead?

That Martin had died by our hands?

Had Vim told her…? Or had she simply assumed?

She had obviously witnessed Vim defeat those other mercenaries. The ones she had been with. She had undoubtedly witnessed it all.

Following Vim as we headed for the village… I wondered how this night would end.

The enemies of the Society would die. There was no doubt of that. No matter whom they were, or how many, of those mercenaries were left… it wouldn’t matter. Vim would slay them all.

Vim would slaughter untold numbers if he must.

Then once done, we’d continue onward. To our next destination. Ever forward. Like the many times before.

There was no other possible ending here. There were small variances, of course… like the possibility of one of our members dying, or myself, but…

Vim would defeat them all. Save those he could. Then once he was sure all was well, he would then continue on his way. To help the next member who needed him.

There was no other end. No other possibility.

So such an ending was obvious. But…

“Brother…” Elisabell sobbed, and I clenched my teeth.

By his rules she should be included in those numbers.

Just as the Societies enemies were destined to meet their end and die…

Her end should be destined too.

Gulping a heavy heart, I did everything I could to not panic. To not fear what was to, inevitably, happen.

Wanting to join the girl in her sorrows, I bit back my own tears.

It was always something, wasn’t it? Vim was right. Like always. As he always said.

Fate was cruel. Beyond measure.

Especially to us.

Elisabell continued to sob, weeping uncontrollably. Each sob broke my heart more. Each tear she wept gave birth to one of my own.

“Martin…” Elisabell cried.

“I know,” I said softly.

I know.