Okay. It's me again. So this is a new story. I felt like writing it so here it is. I should probably update my other story but well. Anyways, don't like don't read.
Disclaimer- Not mine
Chapter 1- A Lost Tribe
"Aye. It's a fine day to be traveling through Sacae," the forty-year-old caravan man said as he drove his horses faster through the wild, beautiful plains of Sacae.
The Sacaen plains have been untouched for centuries. Even during the Souring, the war with the Dragons, the plains emerged miraculously unscratched. While due to the war taking place in Lycia, Bern, and the Dread Isles mainly, the majesty of the Sacaen plains still made travelers marvel whether this was divine protection from St. Elimine herself.
"Now where are the Lorcas? They should be in this area this time of the season. Maybe I have the wrong time? No. This is right. So where? Perhaps they have been delayed by the rainy season?" the man pondered as he slowed his horses down to a trot. He busily scanned the surrounding area in hopes of seeing a Lorcan tribesman.
It was dawn when he set out, and now it was nearly sunset. If he can't impose on the Lorcas then he will need to ride through the night to reach the closest village of Muhir. Muhir was not a bad city per say. It was quite the opposite. Busy and lively, it was one of the most prominent and few cities in Sacae. The inns though were another story. The last time, he stayed at Muhir, there was no place in the inns and he was forced to stay in the cramped stables along with his horses and caravan.
As the man scanned the horizon once more, he noticed a small group of gers by the river in the north. He thought that the inhabitants might be able to provide him with the answer he seeks. Thus he drove his caravan forward until he reached one of the gers. He got off the caravan and wandered around the gers. He saw to his frustration that they were all trashed. Well, all except for one. There was one ger that was clean and well taken care of. Its inhabitant was nowhere to be seen however. Suddenly, he felt a sword pressed against his throat.
"Don't move," the voice said. The voice was surprisingly female.
"Why are you looking through a nomad's home without permission?" the voice asked. There was no small trace of malice in her voice.
"I am a traveling merchant. I was heading through Sacae to peddle my goods to the tribes throughout the region. I have already stopped at the Kutolah tribe. My next destination was the Lorca tribe. I am on good relations with Hassar the chieftain. From the tone of your voice and your sword, you must be a nomad of some tribe," the man said.
The girl removed the blade from his throat but he realized she had not sheathed it. Smart move.
"I am Lyn of the Lorcas. If you seek to make trade with them, you have wasted your time. Bandits attacked the tribe two seasons ago. I am one of the few survivors," Lyn said with a trace of sadness in her voice though she was obviously trying to mask her emotions.
"I am quite sorry to hear that, but I am glad to see that there are some survivors. It's a shame though. I had hoped to have a drink with Hassar again, Elimine guide his soul, but it good to see you again young Lyn," seeing the confused look on her face he continued," I have not introduced myself yet have I? I am Mushu, a traveling merchant traveling throughout Elibe trying to peddle my goods. I visited your tribe many seasons ago and I remember seeing a young green haired girl this tall hiding behind her mother who Hassar introduced as his wife and child. You have really grown."
The grip on Lyn's sword was slackened as a flash of recognition sounded through her mind. She did recall a traveler who traveled to meet the Lorcas many seasons ago. Her father spoke highly of the traveler who was skilled in the ways of war. But the man before her was not a warrior he was a merchant. The name and story he spoke of was fitting however. Needless to say, Lyn was a bit taken back.
"I stopped fighting a long time ago. I grew weary of slaying men and working for lords who were not worthy of the respect and loyalty of those who are "beneath them"," Mushu said quietly as he realized that Hassar most likely told of a warrior who traveled to see the Lorcas.
At those words, Lyn realized the stranger before her was a family friend and quickly sheathed her sword. She apologized for her mistreatment of a guest. Mushu just shrugged her off and invited her for an outdoor meal. Lyn however declined.
"I have to hunt and stockpile meat before the cold season begins. I have to be able to provide for myself now," Lyn said solemnly.
"What is the world of Elibe coming to when a decent child has to hunt for her own meal? How about we head to Muhir for today. I'll treat you to a hot meal there and tomorrow I can help you hunt enough game for the winter if you'll like. … Actually, do you want totravel with me? You're young. You should explore this land of ours. It would be shame to waste your time just staying by yourself in that little ger of yours," Mushu ranted.
"Um, er, what?" Lyn said uncomprehending.
Mushu sighed. He thought he cured this habit of ranting but he guessed not. "Well let's just go to Muhir for now. I'll treat you to a meal. Then if there's room, we can get two rooms and then in the morning we can hunt if you want to stay here," Mushu said, slowly this time.
"Um sure. Thank you," Lyn said.
Mushu led Lyn to where he parked his caravan and helped her up the wagon. He then spurred his horses into action, heading towards Muhir. On the way, Mushu asked Lyn about the details of the bandit attack. Initially, Lyn told some of the tale. It began with poisoning the drinking water. But near the end of the story, about where her father placed her on a horse and sent her off before returning to the fray made her end up shedding tears.
Mushu sighed and thought, "What tribulations this one had to endure! At this point, her mind is one of sadness and vengeance. If I left her alone, she will one day attack the Talivers, I believe, and end up losing her life. She does not yet have the power or skill of her father. St. Elimine, spirits of Sacae, and whatever religions that protect man, I ask you to guide this child somehow if I am unable."
"We're here," Mushu said quietly to Lyn. He made several stops along the way to comfort the child and uttered to her consoling words but he sensed her spirits were ravaged and the wounds will need time to heal, even then it may not be enough. Now they were less than a mile from Muhir. Mushu thought he should snap Lyn out of her reverie and have her take in the surroundings. Lyn gave a muttered acknowledgement and headed closer to Mushu's driver seat.
With the eyes of a hunter, akin to her clan, Lyn noticed movement out of the corner of her eyes. Mushu also noticed the movement, just a second after Lyn and gave her a silent nod. He slowed the caravan and waited for the movement to pass.
"Hm. I thought the bandits would attack us," Mushu mused.
Recognition came to Lyn and she said, "They are heading to Muhir. They will attack the city!"
"Then shall we head back? I would prefer to avoid bandits," Mushu said seriously.
"We can't do that. Muhir is well populated but the guards are inexperienced. In the past attacks, many of their guards were killed or injured. They have inadequate defenses. I refuse to let bandits attack and kill innocents!" Lyn said firmly.
"Don't act like you are some kind of hero kid. In my lifetime, I have learned there are no heroes, just men who have gone beyond for their own dreams or desires. Vanity rules. All is perspective. Those bandits may be raiding because they have a sick friend who needs money for a healing that they can't afford. They may be attacking to get food for their starving comrades. They may be attacking for their so-called rightful vengeance. Is it our right to deny these people what we ourselves desire?" Mushu ranted sagely.
Lyn let a few moments for his words to digest before realizing all those words were aimed at her. This made her angry that he would compare those greedy blackhearts to her.
"I am nothing like those bandits. I hunt for my food. I earn my gold honorably. I want vengeance because… because…" Lyn trailed off.
"You kill to eat. You sell your kills or harvest for gold. You want vengeance because it is your right. As long as you harbor those feelings and can't admit it, you are the same as them," Mushu said not unkindly.
Lyn got angrier and grabbed a sword in a barrel before jumping off the wagon and running off while shouting, "If you are too cowardly to fight them, then I will. I don't care about their reasons. I will do what I believe is right."
"Wait. If you go, you can die. For Elimine's sake…" Mushu cried before hiding his caravan in the nearby woods. He grabbed a sword from the same barrel Lyn got hers from and chased after her.
Lyn was right. The bandits were few, perhaps ten of them. The guards of Muhir were, as Lyn predicted, ill prepared for the fight. She saw four guardsmen barely holding off a tag-teamed fight. Three more were lying on the ground unmoving. Without thinking, Lyn rushed into the fight and killed a bandit.
With her element of surprise gone though, the bandits realized their new opponent was a mere child. This made them angrier at the fact that the girl killed one of their own. Lyn headed to a guard who was being doubled and helped him fend off the two bandits. They were still overwhelmed.
However, reinforcements were coming to help Lyn. Two more guardsmen appeared. From their level of skill, it was obvious they were well-trained infantry. With their help, the bandits' number started falling. Casualties on both side was high though. Only three bandits were left. The veteran guardsmen were out of the fight. They had previous wounds but still headed into the fray. The other guardsmen were either too badly wounded to continue, unconscious, or dead. Lyn had the least injuries and was the last line of defense in a sense.
One of the remaining bandits charged her and shouted, "You worthless wench. You dare to attack me? Batta the Beast?"
The other two bandits started moving to help their leader. Lyn thought that this may really be it. She felt guilty that she yelled at Mushu. Dying feeling guilty, made Lyn sad. She was going to leave this world feeling guilty.
Suddenly the two bandits heading towards Lyn was cut in half. Behind them, Lyn saw Mushu. She was grateful that he decided to come help. Her moment of carelessness however caused her to miss her timing and get a cut from Batta's axe to the leg. When she thought he would strike the final blow, she saw a sword protruding from Batta's chest.
"How can this be?" Batta croaked before he died.
"You children always make your elders worry," Mushu sighed before he helped Lyn get up and walked her to the healers who by now were healing the guardsmen. Four guardsmen were dead, but the bandits were routed. It was a hollow victory but a victory nonetheless.
As a healer was treating Lyn, she asked Mushu why he came. Mushu just shrugged and said that if he let her die, he wouldn't be a very good role model now would he? Lyn just laughed and thanked him.
When the healers were finished, Mushu led Lyn to the inn. Seeing that it was the two who helped save their city from being raided, there were conveniently two rooms. Mushu told Lyn to get some rest as neither of them were hungry. Tomorrow they will talk about what Lyn wants to do.
So how was it? Let me know. RRR