The elder and the villagers were getting ready for the Dragon. They didn’t believe that Jackson stood a chance, and watched the battle rage on from the safety of their wooden walls. It had gone on for several hours, leaving a heavy sweat on most of the people. Dragons, beings of incredible magic, normally destroyed any that stood against them in mere moments. The fact Jackson fought it for so long earned him a large amount of respect. It was about midday, and the sun hung almost dead center over the village.

“Someone’s coming!”

A guard on the wall screamed. Everyone rushed to their battle stations, not knowing if it was a bandit or the royal army coming to investigate the Dragon. A hard knock on the great wooden gate alarmed most of the people. The guards moved slowly, taking in the sight.

“I think we should open the gate!”

The guard called, signally for the gate to be opened. Everyone gathered.

“Where’s my fucking gold?”

Jackson stepped inside; his body burned in several places. His cape was in tatters, and he looked beyond pissed. He was dragging the dragon’s corpse behind him. Its neck was snapped, and one of its wings was missing. The final oddity was the stomach looked to have been blown apart from the inside, which could explain why Jackson was covered in blood and goo.

“You’re alive? How, I mean how?”

“Gold, now!”

Jackson had one goal at that moment, get his pay and leave.

“We don’t have gold sir. We are a simple people!”

Jackson roared, grabbing the elder by his shirt. He looked beastly, his duel colored eyes both telling the elder he wasn’t in the mood to hear such things.

“What?”

“Listen, listen. We can repair your gear… and um… um… give you a place to rest of a while… and a free meal… along with your pay… please don’t kill me!”

Jackson let go of the old man and pointed to the dragon.

“I want that hide for my armor. A cape would be nice to.”

The town’s people led Jackson away, and after he calmed down started to cheer for him. And, like they promised, they started to get him anything he asked for.

Back in Border Town, the boys were making amends to the girls. Carley and Alice both didn’t believe that Joseph was there for any other reason than information gathering and weren’t pressing him. The other two weren’t so lucky.

“Wasting our time and money in a place like that! That place puts our movement back you know. Think, when word gets out that the heroes spent a night there, it will be a nightmare.”

Carley was shaking as she enjoyed the food that was bought to calm her. Joseph couldn’t stop thinking of Barbara. He was certain it was the same shirt Jackson used to wear. The dark green shirt that looked like it had been through a war zone.

“What are you thinking about?”

Angela asked. Joseph looked at her, then thought the conversation through. If he told them that he saw a girl wearing a shirt from their world. Kevin and Franklin would just laugh. Carley and Alice wouldn’t understand but would glare at those two. Angela would get mad, she’d understand his point, she’d understand what he thought. She’d then tell him how he was just wishing Jackson back to life again. She’d tell him that she could have gotten the shirt any number of ways, and that it might have come from any of their classmates. Yet, Joseph was convinced it was Jackson’s.

“Nothing.”

“Did you get any useful information at least?”

“Sort of.”

Joseph explained what the Madame told him about the origins of the Berserker. They seemed to think like him, that it didn’t really matter. The Berserker was a monster, the thing the kingdom declared as an enemy for good reason. Even the other countries wanted it dead.

“…Sound to me like she clueless as to what’s going on in this world.”

Carley said, sounding proud. She then turned to glare at Kevin who laughed suddenly.

“The Berserker doesn’t just wait around, what about all the stories of it wiping out entire armies? No way they just happened to bump into it.”

“That not really far off Franklin.”

Angela corrected him.

“I’ve been reading up on it. Trying to find a pattern. Its movements are pretty random, just shows up one day and the military is mobilized. Also, there no reports of it attacking towns or people. Just soldiers and adventures that cross its path.”

“You make it sound misunderstood.”

Kevin laughed again, giving Angela a dark look.

“I hate the beast just as much as the next person. I simply told you guys the facts.”

“Let’s knock this off.”

Joseph ended the discussion and returned to his thoughts.

“I need to go back to the Madame establishment. There someone I need to talk with.”

“I bet there is.”

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

Franklin said without thinking, giving Joseph a wink. The girls looked confused as Kevin elbowed him. They had agreed not to bring it up, as Joseph had several girls competing for his affection even if he didn’t realize it. Franklin bowed in apology, and Joseph shook his head. He still regretted last night but needed to move forwards. The sooner that night was behind him, the better as far as he was concerned.

“I just have some question for the companion of the guard. See what she knows. With any luck, she can give us some incite how he drove the monster off.”

“Too bad we can’t go straight to the source.”

The group sighed, not liking detective work.

“You think he skipped town because we were asking questions?”

Angela asked the group.

“Why would he do that?”

Kevin shook his head.

“Well, he left right after we got here. That makes sense.”

Franklin looked confused as he defended Angela.

“I heard he picked a job a day or so before we got here. So, he’d planned to leave before we got here.”

“Doesn’t matter! He’s being payed to guard that place, and real return eventually. Face it, Madame Julia’s is the place we need to be at, and the place where all the answers lie!”

Joseph snapped at them, feeling heated. He jumped to his feet and went for a walk. The others didn’t dare follow him, knowing he just needed some time to cool off.

Gypsy sat at the counter, holding her head. Barbara was resting next to her, keeping an eye on the clientele. Gypsy got the final say and wouldn’t hesitate if she thought one of the men got a little too emotional. This day seemed to be calm, only one guy had to be removed for getting a little too drunk. However, it was only midday. Barbara was looking at the water she’d fetched, as Gypsy forbade her from drinking any alcohol, thinking what she had overheard. Barbara knew very little about the Berserker, only its feelings. It was in pain and hated so much. It screamed in her head every night, crawling against her skin even as she sat there. Every drop of blood driving her to kill. It enjoyed it so much, and she in turn enjoyed it.

“Let’s… have… some… fun…”

The Berserker spoke in her head, it cold voice neither male nor female. Just death. Just hollow. It was maddening, and the worse part was, she wanted to let it out again. She wanted to go numb and feel nothing while it had its fun. She sipped her water, trying hard to conceal the fight in her head.

“He should be back tomorrow, right?”

Gypsy’s voice spooked Barbara. She hadn’t expected her to speak, not with how grim she looked. Barbara pattered her gently, hoping to get her feeling across. In this case the feeling of concern.

“Maybe, he’d come back tonight. We could sleep on him again until he complained. I can just imagen his stupid face. Who cares about them stupid heroes? Why they need to come to town making everything so complicated? I like you Barb, you’re easy to talk to. You don’t judge me.”

Barbara just continued to stroke her friend, trying hard to piece together what she meant. The Madame walked over, and handed Gypsy some more bread, giving her a little smile before returning to the customers. Barbara returned to sipping her drink while Gypsy ate the bread slowly.

Joseph once more entered. His face looking slightly red as he looked around the room. He paused on Barbara and moved over to her. Gypsy sighed, taking a chunk of bread.

“I have some questions for you!”

Joseph took the seat next to Barbara. His eyes fixed on her shirt for just a moment before looking into her eyes.

“She our security, not entertainment mister hero. Please don’t bother her.”

“I just have some questions. That shirt, where did you get it?”

Barbara looked from the shirt to him, then to Gypsy finally she took a sip of water while returning to keeping an eye on the room.

“The shirt, where did you get it?”

Barbara sipped her water again, tilting her head slightly.

“Hey, where did you get the shirt?”

“You’re wasting your time.”

“I just want a simple answer.”

“Here’s one, she’s mute. Might also be brain dead, jury’s still out.”

“That a mean thing to say.”

“What, rather I gave you the classic charm, and agreed with you. Rather I act like an idiot. Sorry, I’m not Lilim.”

“I’m not saying that. No need to draw other people into this. Do you know where she got the shirt?”

“What do I look like, her mother?”

Barbara patted Gypsy on the back lightly, giving her a warm toddler like smile.

“You sort of do.”

“Listen buddy, keep talking and I’ll let you get introduced to the business end of her broadswords!”

“Swords? Like more than one?”

“All her brain power was converted into muscle. I can guaranty she’s the strongest person in this room.”

“You can be rather mean, even when complimenting.”

“I’m also recovering from a long night of drinking caused by an idiot asking too many questions. One more warning.”

“Why are you guys trying so hard to hide things? I just want answers.”

“Because, you’re an idiot. Do you want the entire country knowing your identity, knowing all your weaknesses? No, mister ray of hope. The Kingdom wants you to be their secret weapon in this next war. Our guard just wants to… well I would say live, but he’s tried to kill himself how many times Barbara?”

Barbara started to tick off her fingers. She stopped after remembering she didn’t know how to count, nor communicate the answer.

“That’s right, a lot.”

“The guy you put your life in the hands of, is suicidal?”

“Sort of. Blames himself for doing something terrible. Doesn’t go into any details, and it rarely comes up. Now, either pay for some time or leave.”

“But… but I have so many questions!”

“Barb, please remove the hero. No blood please.”

Barbara nodded, understanding the order. She grabbed from under the counter her two massive blades and kept them focused on Joseph’s neck. She slowly backed him outside the building, gave him a warm smile then returned to her seat. Joseph, if he wasn’t so angry, might have been impressed. He returned to the other heroes, shaking his head when they asked if he’d learned anything new.

It was passed midnight when Jackson returned to Border Town. He was tired, and irritated. His cape was patch works, not that he minded that much. His new armor was lighter, and stronger than his old armor. His fake leg was reinforced, and the dagger was repaired. The reason he was irritated after everything, despite them making good on their promises, was the long trek back. After getting him set, they kicked him out of the village with a warning if he ever returned. He then had to fight his way through the forest at the worst time of night, managing to meet every dangerous monster, bandit, bounty hunter and other hazard it had to throw his way. He dealt with it all with a single snap of his fingers, but it still irritated Jackson.

Reaching the Madame’s establishment, the room went silent at the sight of him. He glared at a rather fat man, just because he could, and headed for his room. Barbara and Gypsy followed him in a hurry, noticing his state. Before he could disappear, Barbara hugged him, and Gypsy smiled. They both noticed the burn marks across his body, and the patch work cape.

“Good to see you, how was your trip?”

Jackson didn’t answer, his face went hollow as he retired.

“Wait, is that Dragon’s hide?”

The inhuman growl that escaped him silenced Gypsy’s questions. She entered the room, closing and locking the door. After a few minutes, Jackson had most of his armor removed while Gypsy started to treat his latest wounds. Barbara just watched, wishing she been there to help. She had to scrape the old past from his back, at least the parts which weren’t fused to his skin. His state almost brought a tear to their eyes, but Jackson seemed to be fine. The only good news Gypsy found, even with all his wounds, at least he wasn’t still bleeding.

“Barbara, next time we go west, there’s this little town with a wooden wall. If it happens to disappear from the map, I would not be mad.”

“Don’t be saying stuff like that, what if she actually does it?”

“Then I want front row seats and popcorn.”

“At least you got some nice gear out of it.”

Jackson breathed heavily, then ignored the pain as some burn cream was applied to his back. It hurt almost as bad as when he received the burns. Barbara looked worried, and Jackson could sense that little town’s days were numbered. This brought a smile to his face, making the pain a little less painful.