Chapter 1

Footsteps of fate

Bulgar, the only Sacaean city founded inside the plains of Sacae. Dozens of big, rectangular brick houses draped in colored drapes and lively paints; small plazas dotted the city giving the place a lively atmosphere. Many hunters called this city home, making it the safest place of all Sacae.

Merchants from far and wide always arrived on Bulgar, selling their exotic merchandise in exchange of furs and medicinal herbs that could only be found inside the endless plains of Sacae. It was a place of dreams and abundance for Lyn's eyes. The proof that even Sacaeans could create marvelous cities worthy of being praised if they wanted. Here Martok would surely..

"Is underwhelming." stated Martok blankly

Martok's words abruptly brought the young Sacaeans huntress to reality

"Wait, what?" asked the girl

"Underwhelming." repeated Martok "I expected a great city, covered with tall walls and armed to the teeth. After all you pestered me with tales about the magnificence of this city for days, and now all I see is a small town made of dirt and bricks. Underwhelming."

Lyn had to forcefully swallow her first response in the name of avoiding a pointless argument.

"Martok'aj, surrounding a city or a camp with a wall is against everything we Sacaeans believe, and this small town made of brick can offer us more than we can imagine. I am sure of it."

"I am still unconvinced." was Martok's response "Still, maybe I am too used to constructions residing inside the void like Terok Knor. Let's go now warrior, let's search for a weapon smith and some traders."

And maybe something good to drink, but this Martok refused to say it out loud.

"Lyn" said Martok the moment they both reached the first houses "In case someone ask, just tell them that I am a warrior from a land far away from both Sacae and Etruria."

"Why Martok?" asked Lyn hesitantly "Do you fear some reaction from the city's inhabitants?" Martok immediately stopped on his tracks.

"Martok?" asked Lyn confused. "Are you" a massive, muscular hand grabbed Lyn's neck with such brutality that the girl couldn't even think about reacting in defense. It was Martok's hand, and said hand effortlessly lifted Lyn's small frame from the terrain, forcing the girl to look at Martok's only eye.

"Don't you ever dare saying that word ever again. A Klingon warrior does not know fear." Martok actually growled at her "But we are here to gain provisions, not to draw unwanted attention! We go inside, we barter for what we need and we disappear before someone decide to investigate about my outlandish appearance. Clear?"

"Clear, Martok'aj." answered frantically Lyn with a whisper. "I am sorry if I have insulted you."

Fear actually gripped Lyn's body for some seconds. Compared to him Lyn was a small child in both strength and experience, and apparently he possessed one hell of a temper.

Her fear was unjustified: the moment the old general saw true regret inside Lyn's eyes was the moment he dropped her down on the floor, the incident already forgotten. The same callous hand that moments ago gripped Lyn's neck now was offered as a sign of peace and helped Lyn coming back on her feet.

"Good, now let's go and be done with this."


Three hours later

-Lyn must possess Ferengi's blood inside her veins. This or the city is currently overcrowded with buyers and need every scrap of meat and fur it can find.- mused Martok idly.

Three hours, just three hours ago both Lyn and Martok were one of the many vagabonds entering inside the city and now, thanks to Lyn's guidance and both the meat and fur gained from the hunters from the small encampment, their purses were filled with gold pieces. Another good notice: contrary to Martok's pessimistic previsions the city's inhabitants proved to be quite acceptive toward Martok, something that left the old general used to see people staring or pointing him in fear and distrust quite surprised; he was a giant of a man with his face covered in ridges, both his limbs the size of a tree trunk and his body protected by a strange, flashy looking armor after all, and yet almost no one tried to annoy or outright stop him. Some hunters gave him a wide berth, some children looked at him with wide looking eyes and a pair of traders from Etruria quickly moved away the moment they saw the massive Klingon but, apart from that, it all went well.

"A new backpack, dried meat and fruits for two weeks, salt, a new iron sword and a cape for you Martok'aj, two bedrolls, small traps for animals and a coil of rope. I bought everything we needed." It was Lyn's voice. Right now both Martok and Lyn were inside one of Bulgar's many inns, eating a simple meal of bread and meat while drinking some beer. Lyn in particular was doing an inventory of all things recently bought while Martok checked his new weapon now resting on his scabbard. The natives called it sword, and it was just like the ones crafted on Earth centuries ago. Swords were not a novelty for Martok: his people used them from time to time, mostly as ceremonial objects, but this weapon lacked the wicked barbs and slight curves favored by his people. The metal was also pitiful, a simple alloy of raw iron mixed with traces of carbon, but against lightly armored enemies it was more than enough.

"Then we can go now Lyn. The road for this Etruria is long, according for the merchants we consulted, and we still have some time before dusk."

"Soon there will be no light, Martok'aj." Answered Lyn "This night the moon will be hidden and darkness cover the plains of Sacae in minutes. We could stay in an inn and depart at the first light."

"True" conceded Martok "But we need to start your training and the wilderness will be perfect for this." Martok had already an idea or two about how to train Lyn. Was she ready for what he had in store for her? Maybe, and sure as the Sto Vo Kor they were about to find out.

"And I do not want for you to have a bed. A comfy mattress is a warrior's worst enemy, together with any pathetic and decadent luxury."

"Then you will hate the Etrurians." snickered Lyn smiling "Very well Martok'aj, let's go outside."

They both quickly payed for their dinner, grabbed their now full backpacks and moved toward the outskirts of the city; no word left their mouths, both the Klingon and the girl deep in their own minds. They were almost away when the most unlikely type of roadblock stopped them in their tracks.

"Ooh, what a dazzling vision of loveliness!" shouted a voice on their right, a male one. An annoying one, at least for Martok. Martok turned toward the source of the problem, trying to avoid extracting his new weapon and immediately testing it.

A young human warrior with short blonde hair and covered with a green metal armor suddenly appeared and greeted the surprised duo. He was riding one of those strange, long faced creatures called horses that humans loved for some strange reason and strapped on his saddle rested a long spear. His face was jovial and completely unbefitting of a warrior, but his gear appeared well tended.

-Some young warrior trying to show off.- decided Martok -But his gear appear not from this place. I wonder why he is here.-

"O beauteous one. Could you favor me your name, or better, your company?"

He was clearly talking to Lyn, and Martok almost chocked on his own breath. Was this warrior really trying to court Lyn? Now? Could he not see that they were both departing?

"Where are you from, sir knight, and how dare you speak to me so freely?"

Lyn's answer was polite. Too polite in Martok's opinion. He only wanted to strangle this newcomer. Still, he decided to see how Lyn reacted against this kind of attacks and stood still.

"Ha, I thought you'd never ask. My name is Sain and I come from Lycia. I hail from the Caelin canton, home of men of great passion and fire." Pompous flattering that made Martok's warrior spirit cringe to the very core.

"More like home of callous oafs with loose tongues!" was Lyn's reply "Let's go Martok, before I hit this buffoon." Lyn turned her back and began moving away, and Martok immediately followed her.

"What, no wait o fair maiden! I do not" Clearly the young man had no idea when to give up, because he launched himself toward their direction, and this time Martok decided to intervene.

The old Klingon waited until the knight was next to him. Then he lunged forward with his bulk and grabbed Sain by the neck, stopping on his track and almost dragging him face down with one savage pull. The horse whined but refused to move, scared by Martok's impressive presence and his predatory look.

"She does not want your attention and neither do i. Go away stripling, before I break all your bones." Said Martok while using his most menacing voice. Truth to be told, the young knight managed to maintain some semblance of composure despite having a two meter tall Klingon looking menacingly at him.

"Ehh sir, I assure you my intention are fully honorable! There is no need to be at each other throats." said Sain trying to smooth talk his way out of Martok's hands.

"Allow me to doubt this." Martok actually snarled this time. What little composure he possessed disappeared the moment he saw Martok's teeth ready to strike at him.

"Sain, here you are!" A third voice blocked this dangerous stand off. It belonged to another man, this time dressed in bright red armor and armed with a pair of swords and a spear. Unlike the other one, this knight had short orange hair and a dour look in his eyes.

"Ah Kent, my boon companion. Can you give me a second?" answered Sain with a forced smile. His companion looked at Sain, then at Martok, and finally at Lyn next to them. A sight escaped from his lips, one said one too many times.

"I cannot leave you for a second. We are in the middle of a mission and you waste your times flirting with random girls and enraging their friends." shouted Kent.

"Sir, could you please unhand my companion? He is ill-mannered, but not a bad person. If you do we will be on our way immediately."

"You better do it." growled Martok, but still he left his grip on Sain, allowing the young man to compose himself once again on the saddle.

"My thanks." answered Kent with a sight of relief "Now Sain, time to go, we have" only now the knight called Kent managed to sneak a clear peek at Lyn, and for a second all his words died inside his throat. Curiosity invaded Martok after seeing this; the reaction was strange, not suited for this situation.

"Pardon my lady but...have we met before?" said Kent with hesitant voice. Both Lyn and Sain misinterpreted him

"No fair Kent! I saw her first!" shouted Sain. Lyn on the other hand looked at Kent with a look of pure loathing

"Are all knights of Lycia a bunch of flirts?" she said with venom dripping from her voice "Let's go Martok, i've run out of patience."

"No wait please!" pleaded Kent but this time Martok unsheathed his sword and aimed it at Kent's neck with such speed that the young knight felt the sharp end of the weapon before he could even move a muscle.

"You heard my friend. We are done with you; now begone before I gut you like a wild Targ." His voice was icy and dangerous, and both the knights noticed it.

Noticing the look of resignation in Kent's eyes, Martok moved his sword from Kent's neck and quickly rejoined Lyn, but he kept his hands on the sword for almost five minutes.

In less than ten minutes they were gone from their sight.

"Sain, come with me, we must follow them." Said Kent the moment the couple disappeared from their eyes

"You wanna try again with that girl? I understand it perfectly! She is quite the beauty." snickered Sain, but Kent sharply rebuked him.

"I am not you Sain! That girl is probably the one we are looking for you fool. Move now!"

"Our mission?" Kent refused to answer, his horse already galloping toward the outskirts of the city in search of Martok and Lyn

"Wait, I am coming!"


Bulgar's outskirts

"Stupid knights, always flirting and leering. Can't they see that I am not interested? I should have cut them down, together with their damnable horses."

"Lyn."

"Why males always think that they are irresistible? As if we girls are blind and stupid."

"Lyn."

And that stupid idiot of a red chevalier. For a moment I almost believed he was a good person. Guess you cannot really trust anyone."

"LYN!"

The girl jumped on his place like a wild rabbit.

"Are you done brooding?" asked Martok deadly serious. "My ear are starting to fall off for the noise."

"I am...sorry Martok'aj" answered Lyn with regret "Is just that."

"You are annoyed and angry because that stupid youngling treated you like a common peasant girl and not as a warrior woman. No respect, no seriousness, only pompous flirting and empty flattering." interrupted Martok; a bitter smile reached Lyn's face after hearing this

"Yes, and his companion proved to be the same." added Lyn, but Martok was still not so sure about him. That human, Kent, looked like a soldier made with different cloth than his friend; maybe Lyn was wrong about him? Regardless, it was not important right now.

The pair moved toward the wilderness for some times, Lyn in front and Martok behind. The girl quickly proved her worth as a guide, moving with speed and certainty among the thick and short vegetation, using only the position of the dying sun and her proven memory as a map. After almost an hour of walking they finally reached their destination, a bridge covering a large river.

"Here is the bridge. Once we cross it we shall be on the road for Etruria." chirped Lyn happily. Martok, on the other hand, looked at the stone construction and his only eye found something unsettling: at least eight men were waiting for someone at the edge of the bridge, some stretched on the walkway, others lying down on the grass; all of them big and burly, armed with heavy but untended axes; the second they saw both Lyn and Martok they all went up and started moving toward them.

"Lyn" warned Martok but the girl had already noticed.

"The river is too strong to be crossed without a ford, and this is the only bridge. We have to cross it." cursed Lyn "Damn them."

"There is a small forest some minutes behind us, let's await them here." said Martok already thinking of a plan

"We run away?" asked Lyn.

"No, we relocate to a better position."

And so they did. They both sprinted toward the forest, forcing the nine would be trouble makers to race against them; they soon reached the small thicket, panting but ready to fight, sword drawn.

It was not exactly a fortress, just a couple of small, gnarled trees with green branches and protruding roots, but it offered at least some protection, especially if their would be killers were too untrained to even avoid hitting the branches with their swings.

A low rumble warned them of the enemy's arrival. Slowly, panting and murmuring, the eight bandits (because their scruffy looks and unkept appearances screamed wild bandits) reached and surrounded them.

"Here you are little miss. Aren't you a pretty one?" leered the leader of this ragged bunch. "Why don't ya leave that ugly beast and follow us, pretty?"

"I have no quarrel with you scum!" roared Lyn in response "Go away and I will refrain from tearing all of you apart!"

In response of this the bandit laughed

"Hehehe...now this is not something pretty to say, dear Lyndis." That got Lyn's attention, in a way that utterly surprised Martok. The girl's grip on her sword lessened and her face….Martok had seen a person with Lyn's current face only once, when one of his warrior got poleaxed by an Orion pirate.

"That name...how do you know that name?" asked Lyn with a whisper The lead bandit simply sighted in mock resignation.

"Such a waste, killing a beauty like you! Ah, the things we do for gold. Come on lads, let's get our pay!" The eight men charged all together, lusting for blood and gold, and in doing so they did exactly what Martok hoped for: so eager they were in their attack that they blocked and obstructed each other while the low branches and roots stopped their momentum. Of the eight attackers only three managed to reach Martok and Lyn together and they quickly paid for this. With one fluid motion Martok draw his blade and planted it in the first brute's skull, shattering it on impact in a mess of brain matter, blood and bone shards; Lyn next to him cut another foe's stomach with such finesse that blood and guts splattered the grass while the bandit collapsed and thrashed on the ground.

The six remaining attackers recoiled for a second at such sight but refused to relent, and attacked once again. This time however, they attacked all in unison, forcing both Lyn and Martok to defend themselves.

Martok parried an axe blow from his right side, then a swing from his back, the sound of metal against metal reverberating across the air. Four of them attacked him all together, swinging their weapons wildly and using all their strength. Martok's sword trembled and shuddered under the heavy blows but no one managed to bypass his defense. The Klingon's control was perfect: always deflecting the heavy blows, always moving at the right place, always ready to strike at any gap. One bandit lunged too forward and received in exchange a severed tendon on the left foot.

A sharp cry echoed in the small thicket; another bandit collapsed in a heap of gore and blood, struck down by Lyn's lightning attacks, but in doing so he dragged the girl's sword, now stuck inside his bones, with him. Lyn tried to wrench the weapon away but another bandit noted the girl's predicament and attacked. Martok saw her protege barely avoiding the first strike, but not the second; a loud thud echoed across the air and Lyn collapsed on the ground, her head hit by the flat of the axe, barely conscious and bleeding by a long cut. The bandit leered at her and raised his axe, ready for the final blow only to have Martok's D'k tagh flew straight inside his throat just a second before the strike. the bandit chocked blood and left the grip on his axe, trying to wrench away the wicked knife jammed inside his throat; he failed and some seconds later he collapsed on the ground like a fish without air, sputtering blood like a fountain.

With her companion down Martok was forced to place himself between Lyn and the five remaining enemies. Lyn was still alive and she was trying to stand up again, but her movements were sluggish, uncoordinated; she was in no shape to fight.

"You killed three of us, bastards!" snarled the lead bandit full of rage "You will suffer for this!"

"Bring it on, useless petaQ!" roared Martok back. The five bandits closed in, and this time Martok could simply not move back, because Lyn was helpless behind her. Gritting his teeth, Martok prepared to stop the incoming onslaught. The five man charged as one….until a green spear skewered one bandit, killing him on the spot and impaling on the nearest tree. All, Martok included, looked stupefied at the unexpected attacker: so embroiled had been everyone in the battle that they never noticed two lone chevaliers coming toward their position at a gallop. Martok immediately recognized them: they were both the green and the red chevalier met almost two hours before on Bulgar.

-They followed us.- reasoned Martok immediately. He considered the possible implication of their action but filed them for later. Now it was not the time.

"Uncouth barbarians!" shouted the one called Sain while wrenching away his spear from the skewered bandit "Attacking a fair maiden and his escort like that! Cowards, everyone of you!"

The four remaining bandits retreated and scattered, surprised by this unexpected attack.

"Cursed knights, always tampering in others's affairs." snarled the lead bandit

"You...you are from" wheezed Lyn, the bleeding thankfully staunched by her hand. The chevalier in red armor stopped

"We will talk later. It appear these ruffians means to do harm. Let us deal with them."

"No!" hoarsely screamed Lyn "This is my battle!" Martok decided to intervene and stopped her with his right hand.

"Lyn, do not be a fool!" chastised Martok "You have already done your part, the body next to you is the proof. Your honor is satisfied, but only a fool keep fighting while wounded. Tend to your wound and let the healthy warriors fight!"

This did not rest well in the young Sacaean's eyes, but it was an order and she obeyed. One hand reached for her backpack, miraculously survived despite the battle, and took a bandage and some vulneraries for her wound. In the meantime Martok charged the remaining enemies, a roar of joy and rage erupting from his mouth.

One bandit, already busy with Sain, was unlucky enough to cross his path; one brutal strike and the bandit's head lobbed off from his neck with a shower of blood.

Another bandit died under Kent's blade, his throat a mess of cut flesh and sinews.

A third bandit, seeing than things were looking ominous, ran away as fast as he could.

Only the bandit leader now remained, scared and furious by the twist of the events and when Martok noticed this he smiled; a cruel, predatory smile.

"That one is mine." stated Martok with cold fury. Both Kent and Sain saw his face and let him challenge the enemy alone, opting instead for reaching Lyn.

The burly man was now sweating profusely, scared and trembling. His footing was unsteady and the grip on his axe too tight; still, he refused to escape. He still possessed at least some shreds of courage.

"Bring it on, big lug" snarled the man trying to banish his fear "I am Zugu, bandit of the mountain, and I do not fear you."

"Good" answered Martok simply "I hate killing cowards."

Zugu charged Martok with a mad dash, trying to surprise Martok with a sudden vertical slash.

A foolish tactic against such a veteran klingon warrior.

Martok simply dodged the clumsy attack and hit with all his strength Zugu in the face with his free fist. Zugu accused the blow and staggered, blood leaking from his mouth; it was all the opening Martok needed for one terrifying slash that cut Zugu's right hand from his arm, letting it fly in the air alongside the axe still attached to his fingers. This time the bandit fell down on the bloodied grass and screamed, a desperate scream filled with pain that terrified every creature in the immediate vicinity, even the two chevaliers.

Martok ignored the bandit's screams and pleads, and simply bend down toward Zugu, his sword ready to finish him

"You have to choices now, bandit." whispered Martok in almost a gentle tone "I can leave you here, slowly bleeding to death, or you can tell me whoever sent you to kill the girl and ease your suffering. The choice is yours."

Zugu screamed and howled in pain, begging for mercy and forgiveness. His left hand clutched the bloody stump with all his strength, trying desperately to staunch the flow of blood.

"No answer?" said Martok unmoved "Very well, good death." he began to move away

"Lungdren! His name is Lungdren! He is some kind of big men in the Lycian league and want the girl dead. Don't know why but he paid a lot. Do not leave me like this, please!" Martok stopped abruptly and turned toward Zugu.

"My thanks, human."

And with one fluid motion he decapitated him.


Fifteen minutes later

A small camp near the bridge. This is where everyone decided to settle and rest after the battle. Lyn was mostly fine, the cut proved to be shallow in the end, but still needed rest, and both the chevaliers refused to go away from her despite the girl's insistent requests.

As a proof of their good intentions both the humans dropped their weapons at Martok's feet, and this was enough for the old general; Lyn still promised to break Sain's head if he started flirting with her again but, apart from that she accepted them and minded her own business.

For some minutes no one dare to speak, Lyn too occupied checking her bandage and the chevaliers too scared by Martok's possible reaction.

"So" asked Martok after chewing a bite of dried meat from his backpack, breaking the ice "Why are you here?"

"Let me start from the beginning, lord Martok." stated the one called Kent "We are knights from Caelin, in Lycia, and we departed looking for someone."

"Lycia is the country beyond the mountain, right?" asked Lyn

"Correct. We come as messengers to Lady Madelyn, who eloped with a Sacaean chieftain 19 years ago."

Lyn's face lit with surprise at this name, something that Martok quickly noticed

"Madelyn was the marquess's only daughter, but the day she eloped and abandoned him he disowned her."

"But one year ago" continued Sain "The marquess received a letter from Lady Madelyn. It said that she and her husband were living happily in peace, along with her daughter called Lyndis. I still remember the marquess's joyous smile the day he discovered to be a grandfather. He understood the folly of his actions, and ordered us to find Lady Madelyn and ask her to come back to Lycia….Unfortunately Lady Madelyn, along with his husband and all his tribe, died under a bandit attack some days after sending the letter. We discovered this after arriving in Bulgar."

"But all is not lost." quickly added Kent "We also learned that their daughter survived the attack and decided to look for her." Kent this time looked at Lyn straight in the eye "And you are the daughter we are looking for Lady Lyndis, am I right?"

"You seems sure about this." commented Martok "What makes you believe this?"

"Her resemblance to Lady Madelyn is striking." answered Kent with a shrug "I studied the portrait for days at Caelin's castle."

"Inside the tribe" murmured Lyn with dreamy voice "All knew me as Lyn of the Lorca, but inside the tent, where only mother and father were with me….i was Lyndis." a tear almost escaped from her eyes, reminiscing of a long lost past.

"So, I have a grandfather? I am not alone?" there was such a desperate tone in Lyn's voce now, and Martok understood it perfectly. To be alone, clan-less, it was such a terrible fate for a Klingon of any caste; it was something wished only for the cruelest of enemies.

Still, there were still some loose ends that needed to be adressed.

"Lyndis" intervened Martok bringing her back to reality "The bandit called you with your real name, and when I interrogated him some minutes ago he claimed that a man called Lungdren paid him in exchange of your head."

At this name Kent sighted in resignation while Sain's face furrowed with rage

"That scoundrel." he cursed lightly

"Lord Lungdren is the marquess's younger brother. He was supposed to ascend to the throne in case of marquess's Hausen death but, if Lady Lyndis return to Caelin, this right will slip away from his hands. Hence the assassins."

"But I do not want the throne!" shouted Lyndis outraged "I have no desire for it."

"Lyn" enquired Martok with a patient voice "I do not think that a man ready to send assassins against a girl that does not even know care about this kind of trivialities."

This plot, the assassins, the lust for power. Martok knew about all of these things: as much as he idolized his race and the Klingon's martial nature, he knew very well that more than one clan was ready to use such underhanded moves, like poison and daggers in the dark, against their enemies; clans that possessed a seat in the high council were especially known for this. The recent betrayal of the Duras clan was a bright example of this problem.

"Lord Martok is right, lady Lyndis. As long as you live, Lord Lungdren will send assassins against you." said Kent "Please, Lady Lyndis, come with us to Caelin."

Lyndis stayed silent for some seconds, her mind busy digesting all these new pieces of informations. For some seconds only the roaring fire could be heard in the air

"Martok'aj" said Lyndis in the end "What should I do? The vengeance….i still desire it, but my grandfather, my only family left….i cannot leave him. There is also my promise to you that I do not want to break."

And you shall not!" promptly answered Martok "Vengeance is important, but duty, family and clan are even more. I will come and train you as I promised and, together, we shall topple that dishonorable biHnuch of Lord Lungdren and reclaim your rightful place inside your family! Then, if your family does not need you anymore, you shall follow the path of vengeance once again."

Lyndis's eyes lit with joy after hearing these words

"Really? Oh thanks Martok. Thanks a thousand times."

"Do not be. Khaless, the greatest Klingon ever existed, once said -When a warrior goes to battle, he does not abandon his friends-.

I consider you a loyal friend, Lyndis of the Lorca and of Caelin, and I shall not abandon you."

"And we shall not abandon you either." promptly added Kent and Sain "Please, allow us to accompany and fight for you, Lady Lyndis, as your retainer." They both kneeled down on the ground

"Please."

"You...all of you." Lyn's voice was broken, on the verge of tears; tears of pure joy and happiness.

"Thank you."

Footsteps of fate is done. The experiment continue.

A few things: I haven't the faintest clue about how Klingons train their warriors but I assume their instructors are super harsh and brutal, hence Martok's reaction at Lyn's words at the beginning.

Second, Lyn is still an immature fighter, that is why she is not killing every single axe enemy in her sight for now.

Stay tuned for the next one and as always tell me if the story looks fine. Most important of all, tell me if Martok, written like this, look like a Klingon. Is my first time trying to write one

BiHnunc= coward

petaQ= garbage