If he were a more powerful man, in body or magic, he would have likely had the intense battle he was rearing for, unfortunately for him though, he was no paladin. As the large man neared the group a dozen hobgoblins with mismatched armor and shields moved to intercept, blocking the downward strike as the remainder swarmed his recovering form. They tore his weapon away and used themselves to weigh him down at each limb, keeping him trapped for the time being. Edward gave his men a side glance, motioning them to surround the impromptu formation, spears, and swords ready.

"With that out of the way, I believe it would be in your interest to surrender."

"Fuck you lording cunt! You'll feed us to the monsters!"

Ed huffed, amused at the insult more than anything.

"Perhaps some of you, but I would much rather we avoid that fate for you. Instead, I want what leadership that remains amongst you to come forward, unarmed."

Their men looked uncertain, scared, and no doubt angry, but after a tense moment a man, a dwarf, and a human woman came forward.

"I am Lenor, priestess of our Lady of Pure Venom."

"And I am Dun Gault Stone, cleric of the Anvil Temple."

The priestess was no one important, either the only one left or a way to save someone of actual importance, on the other hand, the cleric was worth something. Even regular clerics had quite a bit more sway than your run-of-the-mill priest, add the fact that he's a Dun, a title somewhat similar to that of a knight, which made him all the more valuable.

"I have heard of your temple Dun Stone, might I ask what brought you to my family's mountain."

He had a rather unamused look on his face.

"I don't need to tell you for you to know. We were ready to put aside our issue with some of those that came, at least until some fucker mucked it all up, and now we're being pressed between a bastard and his monster pets."

"They are far from being pets, but that is irrelevant. I am willing to offer you an end to these unpleasantries with both food and equipment to return to your temple in Dwarf land."

He brought his hand to his chin, Dun Gault was considering the offer, good, but the priestess was furious going by her scowl.

"I cannot believe- "

"Shut it, priest. I will need to speak with my subordinates and let it be known that I cannot speak for everyone in my company."

"Nor are you expected to, have all the time you need Dun Gault."

"My thanks, if you wouldn't mind letting us through then, we would like to convene-"

"No."

His men were ready to pounce, and from the way, the creatures were gripping their stolen weapons so were they. Panic colored Gault's face before being flushed away by anger. Thankfully he had the sense to let it go, or at least push it to the side, and remained calm.

"For your own good, I must insist on watching you until you decide, or is there to be a problem, Dun?"

Gault gave out a sigh.

"Very well, what does your aid entitle exactly?"

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Good choice, I shall provide a select number of soldiers to escort you to the border with food and water, after which it will be up to you where to go."

"And what price are we to pay for such... help?"

"Nothing unreasonable, we would, of course, ask for you to surrender your weapons and armor, you will be well protected by those I send with you. Do not worry, I shall not send you back with nothing, I have a gift for your high cleric and clergy."

The man next to Ed pulled something metal out of a bag, handing it to Ed, who gave it to the cleric.

"...I recognize this piece, his holiness forged this for the Lady paladin of Cartheg, how did you get this?!"

"It was no trouble to get."

His face gave nothing away, idly inspecting the ruined helm, before tucking it under his arm.

"If that is the case then I seem to have no choice but to accept your offer, my life and those of my subordinates are in your hands."

"And you, priestess?"

"I accept these terms, but not by choice."

"Excellent, it will be but a moment but my men must bring your supplies, for now, you will stay in a staging ground near the fortress. But before that, I must ask that you put down your arms."

They hesitated, but a stern look from their leader got them to comply, and one by one they dropped or laid down their weapons and armor. Luckily most were wearing decently thick clothing underneath so they weren't that bothered by the mountain chill. The only one to not drop their weapon was Gault himself, instead walking up to Edward and holding it out. Looking at it, it was a beautiful weapon, but not for the ornamentation, nor the likely expensive metals and leather used to craft it. Instead, Ed could almost feel the care and attention it was been bathed in, he could feel the magic within the weapon grasping for Gault like a drowned man desperate for water. It wasn't something outrageously valuable or powerful, but it was old and well-loved.

"This is my family hammer, treat it with care, human."

"And so I shall, but if everyone wouldn't mind following the captain, he will show you all the way."

The two groups walked together towards the fortress, his men keeping a close eye on them. Sticking back, Ed turned back towards the hobgoblins who were already poking through the left-behind items.

"I don't know if your master can hear me but we will need to discuss what to do with them."

He gestured to the remaining people who didn't belong to their the priestess' or Gault's groups. They were significantly fewer without them, enough for Ed and the monsters anyway.

"M-Milord, we were only following orders, they would have killed our families if we didn't follow them, you must understand!"

Possibly true, maybe even likely for some of the more ruthless sects, but also just as unlikely. Kannor and two of his godly sons were known for such methods but they were something of an outlier in that regard, most recruited through fervor and incentives. In his mind, these men were more likely here on the promise of riches or aid of some sort.

"Perhaps, and I must admit the only ones to have offended my family were the late paladins of Kannor, but you and all the others with you still partook in the violence."

"But I-we did nothing wrong, please you must show mercy!"

"Mercy was already shown, and I still need to work out my frustrations, my brother is lost somewhere in the mountain, and his lover is with child. What I have shown the dwarf and the priestess is about the limits of my mercy!"

"W-what, but, but, uh... if you don't let us go, we'll tell people?"

He said it without certainty or meaning, a desperate play using the information Ed didn't censor in his vent. Unfortunately for the man, angering a man who holds your life in his palm was the last mistake he would ever make.

"[Accelerated Magic] [Mortis Flora]!"

The eight men were mumbling pleas and offers, only to start choking on something. Their skin grew pale and green, with roots and stems sprouting from their knees and eyes, a single thick stalk emerging from the tops of their skulls. Each stalk formed a bulbous end that sprouted into a sickly yellow-green flower, pretty as it was disgusting. Normally the curse would take months, even years, to properly kill someone, but Edward wasn't just learning how to run things from Arthur in their spare time, he was also trading spells with Helvina and Lily.

Edward did not look satisfied though, he thought such a death would soothe his irritation and stress, but he felt nothing from it, a consequence of his measures to prevent himself from falling to his corruptive magic. His thoughts were interrupted by a rough cough next to him. A short hobgoblin, sprouting leaves and bark over its skin motioned towards the Kruul cleric.

"We still need to decide what to do with him."

"Hmm, I shall leave his fate in your master's... hands? I leave him with the dungeon to decide along with these idiots."

"Nothing else?"

"Tell your master to not wait for me today, he will be busy handling all that you bring to him I imagine."

Ed looked out from the mountain, looking over the cold snow-covered grasslands below.

"More terrible things must be done before the day is done."