CHAPTER 3: WOUNDS

The main woman of the Mainka group walked up to the crowd. She walked with a cocky, confident gaite, as if daring anyone to attack her. She glanced at Cyrean, who still had a bastard sword pointed at the woman. With a smirk she simply ignored the warrior, approaching the civilians. She easily stood over the mostly halfling crowd, being an elf.

The woman leaned down as if to exaggerate the height difference as she spoke. "So Mr Mayor have you considered our generous offer?"

The man stood up from the grave he was kneeling at to face the Mainka, "You can best us down you ruffians but we'll never give in to you."

Her coy smile turned into a scowl, "You still think someone will save you?"

The man stood tall, "Baron Jericho will help us."

The entire Mainka group started laughing as the woman spoke again, "The baron won't be able to save you before we burn your village to the ground."

The halflings stance was unwavering and the woman snapped her fingers, prompting two of the other ten Mainka to grab the mayor by his arms, dragging him out into the street. As the crowd began rushing after them Shiri noticed that Cyrean hadn't actually moved since drawing her blade. The half-elf was stood there, aiming her blade at the Mainka while she was trembling.

Before Shiri could speak, the Mainka woman turned, "What's with you? Some sort of hero?"

Cyrean grimaced, unable to speak as the woman walked forward towards the blade.

She reached out, grabbing the warriors face and inspecting it, "Seems we have a lovely specimen here." She smirked, "You wouldn't happen to be looking for a job would you?"

Cyrean gritted her teeth, her hands gripping the hilt of her blade tighter.

Shiri jumped in, "She's not interested."

The woman looked over, as if seeing the half-orc for the first time, "I wasn't asking you greenskin." She turned back to Cyrean, "Tell you what, I'll give you a day to think about it."

With that she walked off to where the crowd was gathered in the street. Shiri gently moved her hand over Cyreans still trembling grip on the sword, giving a reassuring squeeze. She gave the warrior a slight smile before following the crowd. As the half-orc turned she didn't notice as a year began to roll down her companions cheek before she reluctantly followed. The Mainka tossed the mayor into the middle of the street. Their leader walked up as the gang and the crowd formed a circle around the pair. She waited for the halfling to stand before walking over and kicking him in the stomach, knocking him back to the floor. As the man began to stand again the Mainka woman had already began to pull out a long, curved dagger.

Shiri walked up behind Diana, "We have to do something."

The elf turned solemnly, "If we attack now they might attack the villagers. It is hard but we should wait."

"You'd sit here and do nothing?"

Diana nodded, "Unfortunately I do not see any way I could help."

Shiri glared, grabbing her bag and shoving it into Diana's arms.

"Miss Shiraina what are you planning?"

Shiri shoved the elf off, charging into the middle of the circle.

The woman paused before striking the halfling again, "You again? What do you want greenskin?"

Shiri stood between the Mainka and the mayor, "I'm not going to let you hurt him anymore."

The woman chuckled, "You think you can stop us all by yourself? I knew greenskins where supposed to be stupid but that's just niave."

Shiri gritted her teeth from the remark, "I can't stand by and watch this."

"Ah a hero huh?" She smirked, "Well then let's show everyone what happens to heroes."

Shiri pulled the mayor up, the man thanking her as he ran off behind the crowd. As Cyrean saw what was happening she wanted to run in and help the half-orc, but she felt her body still unable to move from fear. She felt tears running down her face. I'm sorry.. she thought to herself as the Mainka woman slowly walked towards Shiri. The other slavers grabbed the half-orc, kicking the back of her legs so she fell to her knees. The woman leaned over with a smirk, running the dagger across Shiri’s face in an almost mocking fashion. Despite everything Shiri was still putting on as tough of a look as she could.

The woman chuckled, “What’s your name orc?”

“Shiraina.” She glared.

“You may be able to fool yourself with that tough act but you’re trembling.”

Despite her shaking, Shiri kept with her confident tone, “Who’re you?”

“My name’s N’ysané.”

As the woman spoke she gripped the hilt of her dagger, sliding it slowly into Shiri’s arm. As she cried out in pain Cyrean felt a wave of memories washing over her of the same thing happening to her and the other slaves with her. As the memories flooded over her she felt her blood boiling as her body started moving. She burst into the middle of the circle that had gathered, swinging at the slavers and burying her blade into one of the people holding the half-orc down. With a glare she drove the blade further, causing his blood to flood onto the floor. N’ysané and the other slaver that could still move jumped back, watching the gruesome scene as Cyrean ripped her blade back, letting the man fall to the ground as she stood between Shiri and the slaver. N’ysané had a look of realization dawn over her as she saw the raging half-elf. She gestured and one the other slavers grabbed the nearest civilian, the jester. The other villagers began to flee as Diana sighed and drew her bow.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

N’ysané spoke, “Stand down or the fool dies.”

Cyrean let out a primal roar, though she did hesitate from charging again.

The slaver gave a sinister smile, “I see, you’re a berserker.”

Shiri looked up, holding her arm as she noticed Cyrean’s thorny vine tattoo had spread across her entire body, creating a spiked armor. Despite the screaming and rage, Shiri noticed that the half-elf seemed to be in pain. As the villagers finally made it back to their homes the area fell quiet, the only noises coming from the berserker, and the bells of the jester’s outfit.

The leader spoke to the group in front of her, "We'll be back tomorrow, and you will willingly join us."

She turned around and paused for a moment, “And to make sure you don’t get cold feet..”

She snapped her fingers and the Mainka took the jester with them, remounting their horses and riding off to the woods where they'd come from. The berserker’s thorns retreated as she calmed down and crouched down over the whimpering, bleeding Shiri, who was curled up on the floor. As Cyrean reached out she noticed the mage wince from the pain. Diana stood over the pair and the warrior noticed her holding Shiri's bag. Cyrean stood up, grabbing the elf by her cloak and lifted her off of her feet.

“Why’d ye let ‘er do that?! Ain’t you s’posed to be protectin’ ‘er?”

Diana kicked at Cyrean as she tried to get free from her grasp, “I advised heavily against it.”

“Do ye know what they do ta people like ‘er and ‘at fuckin’ jester?”

Diana unclasped her cloak, unfurling her wings and using them to jump back away from Cyrean, “I am aware of the Mainka Organization and what they do. Miss Shiraina made her own decision.”

Cyrean started pacing angrily, “They could kill ‘at fuckin’ fool an’ they were gonna maim te girl yer s’posed to be guarding.”

Diana dusted herself off, “Your concern is valid, though I am rather curious as to why exactly you care.”

Cyrean paused. She went to say something but stopped instead, “Y’know what, ah ain’t gotta answer ta te ye. Kill yerself and te girl for all ah care.”

The half-elf stormed off as Diana walked over to Shiri, putting her cloak back on as she kneeled down to Shiri, “I am sorry.” she muttered, “I used the last of my healing potion already.”

Shiri looked up, wincing as the elf began cleaning the wound, “It’s alright Diana.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I’ll be fine. How’re the villagers?”

Diana looked up as they started leaving their houses again, “They are fine, thanks to you intervening.”

“That’s good.” Shiri sighed contently, “How’s Cyrean?”

Diana shrugged, “She is probably off breaking something.”

She finished bandaging the wound, helping Shiri stand up. The girl took back her bag and looked around at the shambles of the town they were standing in.

“We need to talk to her.”

Diana sighed, “May I ask what you have in mind?”

“Look around Diana. This town… we can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“Shiri…” she paused, “What you see happening here is… commonplace. Plenty of towns are suffering for one reason or another and we cannot save them all.”

“So you’d rather just let every town you go through stay that way instead of even trying?”

Diana simply nodded, “What am I supposed to do Shiri? Take out groups of thugs and cure plagues everywhere I go? I am only one person.”

Shiri stomped her foot and glared, “Well now there’s two of us, three if Cyrean wants to help too.”

“You can barely cast first tier spells and we do not know anything about that woman. Do you know what a berserker is Shiri?! They are uncontrollable warriors who gain strength through rage like magic.”

“Why does it matter?! She’s tough and we need help.”

“What if she turns and attacks us in her rage?”

“Then we deal with it. Why are you so scared of her all the sudden Diana?”

“Your guardian wanted me to take you on a casual, safe adventure and a week out of Rithnar and you’ve been stabbed!”

“That was my choice and I stand by it!”

The pair stood in angry silence for a bit before Shiri spoke again, “I’m going to try to help, with or without you or Cyrean.”

Shiri walked off after Cyrean, leaving Diana standing there as the rain finally stopped. Diana rubbed her temples in frustration before heading to where the mayor was.

The mayor spoke first, “Hello miss, thank you so much for helping us.”

“Please, there is no need to thank me it was all miss Shiraina.”

“Well please send her my regards. Anyway can I help you?”

“Yes. I was sent here to find someone by the name of Caramella Lightstream.”

The mayor gave her a confused look, “I don’t know anyone by that name, though many travelers don’t give their real names. Do you know anything else about her?”

Diana nodded, “Curly brunette hair, blue eyes, likes music. She might be a bard.”

As Diana spoke she realized something and mumbled, “The jester.. What was that jester’s name?”

“Only gave us her stage name, Joy Jingles.”

“I believe we have found our Caramella. Thank you sir.”

He nodded, “No problem really.”

~

Shiri was looking around the houses for Cyrean, finding her sitting down on some crates behind a building.

“Cyrean?”

The woman sniffled and looked away, wiping her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Ahm fine Shiri.”

Shiri sat down on a crate next to Cyrean, “Then why’re you back here?”

“Jus’... breakin’ some shit.”

“Nothing back here’s broken Cyrean.”

The berserker was avoiding Shiri’s gaze, rubbing her thigh where the thorny vine tattoo was.

“Cyrean.. What happened to you?”

“Jus’ got angry is all. Nothin’ serious.”

“I think you know that’s not what I meant.”

Cyrean stayed silent and Shiri spoke again, “Ever since those slavers showed up you’ve looked so hurt and scared. What did they do to you?”

Cyrean sighed and started unwrapping the bandages from around her body, revealing scars along every foot of skin. She pulled her glove off, revealing a brand on her left palm of a winged owlbear, the symbol of the Mainka Organization. A tear rolled down her rough skin as Cyrean quietly spoke.

“Ah was jus’ a girl then..”