Wilderness, Ashfeld
"We got one boys! Found ourselves a buck!" The man shouted of success when the two men are dragging the buck to the campfire where all the rest are sitting. They are in the middle of the forest where the bandit's are sitting down at one of the logs enjoying their time of peace and environment. The two men went out hunting to find food and they managed to kill a buck and seeing that. Sparked the bandit's of hope that they will enjoy eating to survive in the wildness.
"About time! Took you long enough, let's cut this thing open!" The head leader said grabbing his knife to cut the buck open. "You two did a great job of finding this buck. This will last us for a week."
"thank you boss. Let's have us a feast."
The bandit leader was about to cut the buck open until a bolt hit the man's throat, piercing through his jugular. He gagged falling on the grass in pain and blood started sprout. He clutched to his throat to stop the bleeding but it was no use. It was a fatal blow. The bandits stood up from this and looked around to see any shooters getting their weapons out.
"Fuck! Where that come from?!"
"I don't know!"
"Shit! He's bleeding out! I cant stop the bleeding!! Help him!! SOMEBODY!"
The shouting came to a stop until dozens of arrows and bolts shoot out of the trees, killing the remaining bandits and all of them fell on the ground, but one bandit got hit on the back while he tried to run away. He's crawling to get away but grunted in pain due to the large arrow hit on his back. He glances at the unknown shooters, the group came of trees and bushes. Holding their crossbows marching at the campfire and looking around for any remaining bandit's.
"We got alive one here! Deal with him Ambrosius."
The bandit looks up in fear as he sees a intimidating man marching up to him, getting gladius out to kill him. He panicked and tries to crawl away but Ambrosius slam his boot on his back. He cried out in pain, he grabs the man back of his head and held the gladius to his throat.
"W-W-Wait Please! I-" The bandit got cut off before Ambrosius shoves slashed his throat, blood poured like a waterfall hitting the bloody grass...
The grass on his left side is covered on blood and showing a bloody hand laying on the ground next to side of his head, birds chirped as its fly away from the scene.
Mercy shuddered as she stepped into the cold water, she sighed at the sensation of her feet finally feeling relaxed. She grabbed a bowl next to her that her uniform clothes currently laying on the ground and filled it with water. She grabbed a sponge, drenched it with flower oil, and dipped it in the water. She began to scrub her body down, and dump all over herself using the bowl. She shuddered at the feeling of cold water.
A few mintues went by. She ran her finger's through her long, loose hair that for once wasn't tied up in a ponytail, scrubbing any blood and dirt off. She dips the bowel of water and dumps on her head, letting her hair fall down and she turns around to set the bowel until she saw a knight behind her who is washing his face had a orange and black on his back and symbol on the middle, a helmet is resting next to him and it has two open cross on both sides of the steel helmet. She went to go back to finish her bath but she quickly realize that there is a man behind her, who the hell is that guy?! She prays it's not Julius... She shifts her head and covered her body and shouts at him.
"HEY!!? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!" She yells at the Blackstone Warden who got spooked by her presence and almost fell on the water, he looked at her quickly. "Don't fucking look you perv!"
The warden looked at her with a closed gaze but yet you could still see the shocked expression upon it. "Ma'am I'm sorry but you kind of scared the shit out of me, don't call me a pervert when you startled me!" The Warden shouted back at the woman before rising to his feet and throwing his helm back onto his head with a damp and bloody leather strap off to the side of his chin. "And the names Liam, I was just recently recruited by Holden." Liam explained further.
"Wha-recruited by Holden? Wh- Jesus! Jus-Just look away damn it! Have you have no manners!!" Mercy yells blushingly, sunking her body down further in the water.
"I am, woman!" The warden already had his back turned to the naked peacekeeper with his helmet now upon his head and a wet and bloody cloth within his hand. "I'm going back to the camp, have your privacy!" The warden said as he began to walk, his voice trailed off as he began to get further and further away.
"Who the hell does he think he is..!?" She curses, grabbing her uniform and her leather boots to get out of the water to change of her clothing. As Holden and the others came back already? After they came back from gathering food from the village, Holden and the others already took off without them and Kanis catched up with them but Mercy will take care of the ration cargo they brought so it gives her a perfect excuse to have time for herself for once in the camp. She curses under her breath as she puts her uniform on and her leather boots. Getting up on her feet to leave since he killed the mood...
She approaches to the camp of the blackstones. And the few men are sitting at the campfire who is trying to hold their laughter and snickering to themselves, those fucking pervs. They must've send the new guy to go to the lake even though the lake was already occupied by her. Until a Blackstone sat up and pointed at her in mock.
"How does it feel to be looked at by Hervis Daubeny's lapdog! And hey Warden! Did you get a good look at her!? Was it good!" John howled in laugher and the others started to break down in tears of laughter among the group. Holden was hearing about this and he sighed who is sitting with Jacob and Davis. Mercy balled her fist and she clutches to her hood and set it over her head to go to the tent to be in peace.
"Haha!!! The peacekeeper is embarrassed!" John laughs sitting down back at the log with the others. Julius sits there quietly.
The silent Warden would let out a simple yet annoyed sigh behind his helm as he looked up from the book he was reading to look at the Blackstone. "Speaking of looking at things, have you looked in a mirror lately ?" He asked. Samuel knew he had to hold his ground due to being the new knight in the Blackstone's, especially since he was mercenary.
"Hey learn your place you damn Mercenary! Just because Holden recruited you doesn't mean we have to like you!" He spat at the new recruit, the others nodded in agreement.
"Lay off of the new guy. He fought Ademar with Honor and fair." Holden said in a serious tone.
"Fuck that! He killed Ademar!! Killed him like he was nothing!"
"Then he really was nothing..." Liam thought to himself, he wished to say it out loud but he knew better than that. He simply only shook his head as he was spat on. Only casting a sigh behind his helm and wiping it off with a cloth before giving a nod to Holden.
"And besides we have other matters to worry from yesterday after the storming the fortress." Holden said, wiping the blood off his armor.
"Relax big man. No iron legion or bandits is going find us here. We been camping out here for a damn month! This is literally our paradise here!" John snickers, leaning his back against the log.
"Tell that to the other two men who went missing. They went to go a tavern last night after we celebrated our victory of defeating the traitor." Sebastian said to John.
"What they never came back?" He said skeptical. Sebastian shooked his head.
Simply walking over to the lone Warden would be Kanis. He simply sat down beside the man on the log with crossed arms. "You did real well against Ademar. What's your name kid ?" The Deathbringer asked.
"Liam, sir. And yours ?" Warden replied to the massive man and stuck out his hand for a handshake in which Kanis shook his hand.
"The names Kanis." He spoke whilst shaking the Knights hand. "Don't take heed the group of boys over there, they like to bust the chops of the new recruits." Kanis explained while crossing his arms, beginning a conversation between the two.
Voice can be heard next to Kanis and Liam. "Bullshit! They had to come back! Otherwise they must've had a hungover and forgot where they need to head back here! I'm going go back to the tavern! Tell Apollyon I'll be back!" The first knight got up from the log to ride on the road to look for his two friends went missing, leading his horse to leave.
"They'll show up! It's morning!" Sebastian yells at him but ignored his words and riding off the camp to go search.
"What's going on ?" Kanis chimed. "Who left and hasn't returned to the post ?" He questioned as he rose to his feet with his hand rested upon his sheathed flameberge's elegant hilt.
He shrugged before he looks back at the campfire. "Two guys Aldwin and Joseph went to a tavern to celebrate after our raiding the fortress of the traitor and haven't came back since last night." He poked the burning timber. "They probably had a hungover and haven't returned. That would be my guess."
"Eh we all have those days. Warden when you get the time, go and have words with Apollyon, she'll definitely see you as a fine addition to this legion. Until then, get yourself situated with everyone." The Deathbringer spoke before parting ways and simply making his way over to the small sparring area and called over a knight to spar him.
"He seems like a nice guy..." Warden thought to himself as he watched Kanis make his leave. He couldn't help but feel embarrassed though due to the whole situation at the lake.
The new recruit was told to get his new gear at the back of the camp. He passes by through the tents and people to get his gear and saw a Blackstone wagon that has gear waiting for him. He was about to grab his stuff until he saw a man sitting in a chair tied up. With no clothes on still from his previous punishment with Apollyon and Vortiger, they left him alone since yesterday and he hasn't ate or drink.
Warden looked upon the man with a look of shock at the cruelty dealt to the man. The rookie would simply remove his canteen from his belt and slowly approached the beaten man. "I know that this is probably the last question you'd want to here, but would you want some water ?" He asked Evo.
"Water? Heh..Heh..I LOVE water so much. Its cold..Wet and water.." The man muttered not even glancing up at the Warden.
"Yeah you're severely dehydrated.." The Warden muttered out loud as he brought his canteen to the mans mouth for him to drink. "What did you do for them to do this to you...?"
"They really need to take you out of these restraints..." Liam said as he put his canteen back upon his belt. Where was Holden ? Maybe he could have him take Evo out of these restraints and dressed. "It seems like you did more than just say no, my friend..."
"What the hell do you're thinking boy?" Voice heard next to him who was approaching. Liam turned around to see a black prior, his arms crossed behind his back walking slowly to him. "You dare help a savage who almost killed a Blackstone?"
"The man is quite dehydrated, sir. I was simply just giving him some water.." The warden replied with a jolt at hearing Vortiger speak, he wasn't expecting him to walk up behind him. "But however I did not know of his actions, I apologize, sir." He quickly stammered.
"The man can drink his own salvia for all I care." Vortiger walking pass by the Warden. Approaching to Evo. Putting a sack over his head. He looks back at the warden. "What's your name and who are you?" He glares at him.
"Ok... Liam. First thing first. This man." He pointed at Evo, had a sack on his head and tied up in the chair. "He would've killed you if you let your guard down. That's what he would've wanted!" He spat.
"With all do respect sir, he wouldn't have killed me-he's tied down to a chair.." Liam replied back to vortiger as he raised his head to look upon him whilst he wiped the spat from his Blackstone colored cloth. "But I will follow your orders and stay away from this man." He respectfully said with a nod of his head.
"You'll never know. People has their ways to untied themselves. And that's why we are keeping eye on him." Vortiger chuckles, walking back towards him. "You actually worked with the traitor himself? What was it like to work with him?" He said curiosity, crossing his arms.
"He only cared for his steel and himself. When the day came of the attack he threw us to the battle before himself. But the other men, they weren't too bad I suppose..I hadn't been there long before the battle." Warden explained to Vortiger.
"I see. That's Hervis for you. That prick took half our supplies including our men... To leave for what?" He shook his head in disgust
Tara would be casually leaning against the wagon " am I hearing a heart to heart conversation between a rookie and my dear friend Vortiger ?" She spoke while taking a bite from an apple
"I'm actually letting our friend know. That he is not supposed to help a crazy man." He quickly glances at Tara before he looks back at him. "Get your gear, pick a spot to camp." Vortiger said once more. Liam nodded, he grabs and walks away from them.
After shallowing the chunk of apple shit bit- she walked over towards the three. "Would you like me to deal with our little friend?" She asked while suggesting she was going to do something towards the prisoner
"No. Lord Apollyon wants us to leave him alone. Starved until he breaks more." Vortiger adjust his coat, seeing the Warden to go set his tent.
" There are easier ways to break a person dear Vortiger " She spoke while taking another bite " what type of information are you looking for?"
" No point of torturing of what's already dead. Best leave him be to think about his actions of what he did. It's his punishment." Vortiger said grimly, leaving them both.
" always so grim that one is " She spoke to nonchalantly as she watched Vortiger leave- she then rolled her eyes and would walk off as she practically had nothing to do
Later at evening of the camp...
"Well... John never came back. I guess he joined with the drunkards." Davis chuckles, sitting with the others such as Aragon, William, Jacob and Kanis.
"Are you kidding me? Seriously? He actually never came back since morning?" The knight name Dan who got perked up by this.
Aragon sighed and looked at the men "your friends are probably dead or being tortured right now you damn fools." Aragon said harshly as he continued sharpening his spear
Aragon chuckled darkly and looked straight at Kanis "Do you really believe that. We somehow lose the shard and are left defeated in the wilds. Its the perfect chance to kill us, and you know the iron legion wants us dead, probably have hired bounty hunters. It's how I was hired to assisante you guys, unless you had forgotten"
"No I don't believe it one bit but this place a bit of positivity. We can't be gloomy and depressed, we need to focus on what we must do to survive for the future." Kanis simply said to Aragon in response. "Oh we remember, the Blackstone's remember everything..."
Aragon stood up and grabbed his spear "It's called being realistic." He tapped William with the butt end of his spear "Hey where's Scarlett at Will? Need to borrow her"
Kanis sighed somberly yet silently behind his cloaks hood. Kanis simply hoped Aragon wasn't referring to what he was referring to. Over these past few days, the Deathbringer grew tired of that kind of chatter.
"I'm... not sure." William said as he looked around. Even he seemed confused as to where she went. "I thought she was here a moment ago."
He tapped his spear on the ground and hummed slightly "odd indeed, but she is a peacekeeper." Aragon turned back to Kanis "Which way was the brothel towards"
"And why would you two be going to the brothel?" Scarlet asked, seemingly appearing out of nowhere behind William. She carried several deceased rabbits in one hand and a crossbow in the other. Her sudden burst into the conversation made William jump.
"Who said I was going ?" Kanis said looking to Scarlet with a silent sigh behind his words. The last place Kanis ever wanted to be near or in was a brothel. Especially after the recent disappearance of Juliet.
"I was talking to these two." She limply pointed her unloaded crossbow to William and Aragon.
"I see." Kanis spoke as he rose from his seat upon the fallen tree. "Well, it's to the east-near the tavern everyone has been at." Kanis explained "since you're going there, you can be the one to look for John and the other missing soldiers."
"Oh I'm going to look for them alright, and if they are down there I'm gonna teach em a lesson. Mind coming with Scarlett? You're better at tracking footsteps than I am, and much more stealthy than two big men in heavy armor
"Sure. Best to make sure neither of you get distracted." She replied. She tossed the rabbits to one of the Blackstones by the camp fire and put away her cross on her belt. "Lead the way."
Aragon laughed and began walking towards the brothel "I wouldn't be worried about me getting distracted. Women gravitate towards you know who"
While William had his helmet on he was still visibly confused. He looked back and forth to Aragon and Scarlet as if he was out of some sort of inside joke they had. "Who is the 'you know who' that women gravitate towards?" He asked. He was genuinely very confused.
Minutes later... At the road.
Aragon was walking with William and Scarlett, Scarlett being slightly ahead of the group Aragon sped up to walk beside her "So Scarlett. When are you going to make a move on that clueless giant behind us?" He asked curiously as he looked over at her, his voice quiet enough that William didn't hear.
Scarlet had been wearing a helmet, and she was thankful she was otherwise Aragon would see her bright red face and her eyes widen when he said that. "I... don't know what you're talking about." She said. Her voice slightly muffled from her helmet.
"Some advice Scarlett. Don't wait too long. I've seen the ways you act when girls pander over towards William. He's a strong lad, easy on the eyes. Though he might be a bit dense now he's not dumb, just innocent minded." Aragon said cheerfully, a rarity for the usually silent spear user
"Yes well... social isn't really a word in his vocabulary." Scarlet replied. "His brother kept him isolated for most of his life to focus on training for the iron legion. He's not an idiot by any means but he's not great at picking up social queues." She eventually slowed down to where Aragon would catch up and the two would be side by side. "And I'm not all to familiar on the feeling so telling him how I feel has been a bit.. challenging to say the least.".
"Maybe take a book out of previous encounters, flashing your tits might get his attention" Aragon chuckled before continuing on "Don't do that but I can understand your issues. William isn't exactly a easy first love and the fact that we're in the most hated legion in Ashfeld..." He stopped and sighed "I know a few things about love that I wish I didn't. Just try not to kill any of the girls who flirt with him yea?" He asked looking over to her "and I mean it!"
"Yeah yeah." Scarlet pouted. "I won't go that far." She said as they kept walking.
Aragon glanced at the sides of the roads and sighed. "I still don't think they're alive though Scarlett, so be careful these next few moons okay?" Aragon said as they continued the walk to the brothel.
"Will do." She replied. "Well, maybe will do. Careful isn't really something I'm good at. But I'll try!" She joked.
Mercy is reading her book quietly inside her tent, she flipped a page before she let's out a heavy sigh. It's been hours since the lake incident that she met the new recruit. He seemed... Different but it still doesn't change that man was a perv for looking at her and the others should've told him that the lake was occupied.. She swears she hates Julius and his friends for setting him like that.. She looks up from her book to see liam going through the barrels of fruit, she let out a chuckle at this. He doesn't know that's her stuff that Evelyn gave her before she and kanis left.
She closes her book, gets up from her bed walking up to Liam who is digging through fruits. "First the lake and now you stealing? You must have a death wish." She chuckles, holding her book and she leans against the tent.
The only thing the warden could do was let his helmet covered head drop onto the top of the barrel making a loud thud out of pure embarrassment at this point. "I-I didn't know these were yours, I apologize..." He said in a tired stutter as he looked over to Mercy before he removed his helmet with a somber sigh. "And before at the lake, I didn't mean for that to happen, I was just washing my face in the water and didn't notice you..I got quite the startle..." Liam then said his final words with a small yet nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his neck and looked down at the ground to avoid further embarrassment.
She nodded. "Mhm. Sure. But I'll let you off the hook for now. I'm assuming Julius and his friends set you up didn't they? That the lake was empty? " She asked.
"Yeah-The one with the bucket head right?" He described to her about his looks but poorly.
"Yep. Definitely him. That's Julius." She replies.
"Ah. You know him or something?" The Warden said rubbing the back of his head awkwardly, its a embarrassing situation he is in for the second time.
"An old headache. Don't ask." Mercy said looking at the campfire behind him before she looks at the Warden. "So besides the stealing. What brings you here in this dysfunctional family."
"Well... I don't know where to start honestly." He said trying to think, looking at the ground in embarrassed of the awkwardness.
"Look. Quit shaken up. If I wanted to kill you. You'll be dead already, but I'll let you off the hook." She assured, but couldn't help to give a smile of this man being awakard with her.
"O-Oh right. Sorry it just.. people are giving me the eyes because I-" He paused closing his eyes for a second before he opens them and looks at her. "I killed their friend Ademar.."
"Ah him? Well I can't say I miss that guy but. If he wasn't an asshole to everyone and being a stuck up to Holden... You probably did me favor. Probably not Holden but. That earned my respect in my books." She replied, nodded to him.
He had his head down. "But still though. He was a human like the rest of us. I didn't want to do it but... I had to prevent bloodshed you know?" He whispered, looks at her.
She nods to him in understanding, she doesn't know what's it like to be his shoes but she had similar moment before. But she can understand where is coming from. Mercy gets off and paces around slowly.
"Well. Don't let it get to you for starters, the more you think about it. The more it will get to you. Ademar wasn't a saint last time I remember. Makes no difference, but he had it coming sooner or later." She said truthfully, walking back to her tent.
"You can take the fruits you like. I was not planning to eat them anyway." She said, laying down her cot to her book.
"You don't mind!? Well. Thanks I guess uh- sorry I forgot your name was. My apologies." He apologized to her. Ur letting out awakardly laugh.
"Mercy. That's all you need to know you perv." She snorts, flipping a page. "And Liam right?" She teased.
"I'm not-" He let's out a sigh shooking his head disbelief. "Liam yes. Nice to meet you... Again.."He grumbles, taking the fruit to put in his bag. "I'm only going to take half is that okay?"
"I got no problem Liam but next time.. Just ask." Mercy smiles at him, he nodded and he let out a smile as well. Leaving to go to his tent. She faces back to read her book, that Warden was interesting... If she must say. But oh well. He has guts though she'll give him that.
Later at night... Wilderness, Ashfeld.
My wife is going be happy as hell when she finds out that I earned alot of steels of this hunt game. Maybe I'll get to see my kid for once this is all over."
The Red Eagle is sitting around the campfire after their successful ambush against the bandits. Ambrosius is sitting at the log sharpening his wooden pike with Tiberius, they are all sitting down at the campfire at night that they killed the bandit's for a temporary. They had move the bodies and burn them. Since nobody is going to miss them, Tiberius is drinking his canteen of alcohol.
"We all are. I want those big payment of killing them." Tiberius grins and raises his canteen to them and they too as well to him.
"I wonder where they could be hiding." Ambrosius said calmly as he sharpens the stick forcefully, he looks at it briefly and sets the stick down.
"It's like finding a needle in a haysack, they could be anywhere." Tiberius snorts before he sips his canteen once more.
"You think one of those Snyder gang's could've captured them already?" The red eagle Merc replied to them both.
"Fuck no. I'll kill single every one of t uphem if they cocked our kill!" Tiberius snapped.
"They don't kill." He said quietly, they all looked at him in confusion. "Snyder and his gang's don't kill. They kidnap people and captured them. Turning them into slaves to work. That would be unusual for him to kill. He needs slaves." Ambrosius explains to them.
"We dealt with them before. They're savages as hell. Saw a guy who shot himself with a hand crossbow right though his damn skull." Tiberius replied, holding his canteen.
"Good god. I wouldn't blame him of killing himself. If I was in that position. I would've done it too. Labor work..." The other Merc said.
"It won't matter. They don't come to the civilization. They have their own little world at the other side." Ambrosius scoffed leaning his back against the log
"Hey you gotta admit of Snyder. That place is like a damn paradise. Drink and whores all damn day!" Tiberius grinned, the others chuckle at his statement.
"Hey guys! It's Grace!"
Ambrosius, Tiberius and the group looked up and looked behind them, a Peacekeeper is walking up to them as she steps out of the shadows looking at the camp setup, she's wearing a manniequin like underneath with no showing expression. Just blank, and her visor showing blue eyes, her clothes is covered with stain and blood. She took a seat with the others, removing her hood and she puts her hand on the fire to get warm.
"Any news you found?" The Merc asked holding a rabbit stick to eat.
She looks at them with cold eyes before looking back at the fire. Sighing. "Killed two blackstones but I manage to captured one. Calling himself John." She said coldly.
Tiberius spits out his drink and looks at her in shock. "YOU WHAT?"
"I interrogated him of where his camp is. But he wouldn't give in. He was too loyal." She paused before she looks at Tiberius and Ambrosius. She pointed at the back behind her. "He's out cold. Do whatever you want with him. He's your problem." She said once more.
Ambrosius looks at the back. Sees a Blackstone knight laying on the ground meters away from the camp. He shift his head to turn back to Grace. "Good work." He replies and shift his head to the other side to face Tiberius. "You know what to do."
"Hehe. Say no more. Who's with me guys?" Tiberius is letting out sinister chuckle, getting his knife out. Shining the blade. The others nodded to join him as well.
Amorges is leaning against the tree, taking a puff from the smoking pipe and he blew out the smoke heavily he looks at the lake that has a beautiful view with stars in the sky but it's covered by night before he hears somebody coming up to him. He shift his head around to see a peacekeeper and smiles.
"Grace. How did the mission go." Amorges takes a hit from the pipe once again and turns his head to look back at the lake.
"The mission escalated than I thought, i manage to apprehended two blackstones but one of them broke their ropes and tried to kill me. I killed both of them and the other one who came out of nowhere looking for their friends. So I brought him here." She explains, standing next to Amorges and she looks at the lake as well.
"Did you find anything out of that blackstone?"
"No. He wouldn't give up of their location."
Amorges nodded looking at the lake once more. He puffs out the smoke. "Tiberius will take care of him. He will break him and he's going to give us what we want." He replies.
"You did a good job Grace." She glances at him to look at him. He turns his head to look. "I think you should know that." He said.
"Thanks. You know you shouldn't do that to your lungs. It will kill you." She pointed out.
He chuckles holding his pipe. "We all gotta die someday right?" Amorges smiles.
She frowns at this. "My husband used to say that similar before he died. Telling me death can happen anytime. It could be today, or tommorow, next week. Or months." She said quietly hiding her emotions underneath her helmet.
"You're husband is right. only god can decide our fate. Eventually it's going run out. But it's all about living your moments when that time comes." He replied, letting out sigh. "How he died if you don't mind me asking?"
"He..." She paused before she looks at the ground. But had the courage to say. " He got captured by slavers. They were going to horrible things to him. So... I shot him with a bolt."
"A mercy killing. You did a good thing." He said sympathy, he nodded at this.
"I don't know if that's consider a good thing Amorges..."
"You prevented of the horrors awaits him. Would you want him to live the rest of his life of being tortured and work everyday?" He replies.
"No. I wouldn't want him to go through that." She said truthfully.
"Then consider a good thing that you did for him. Who knows what they could've done to him if he were to still live."
"Perhaps." She mumbles, walking away into the forest.
"Gets some rest. We'll be heading back to the main camp tomorrow morning." He calls out but no word came back from her. He shrugs before he goes back to smoke his pipe.
Scarlet continued to lead the way as they made their way to the brothel to find clues for their missing comrades. She stopped when they reached the outside of the building. "Alright." She said. "We're here." She said, rather annoyed that of all places Aragon wanted to check a brothel for clues.
Aragon looked at the woods with a bad feeling in his gut as he pulled out a vial with a clear liquid inside. Something scarlet might recognize as Aragon's secret weapon when he fought. "We'll look inside the building quickly, then we'll go into the woods" Aragon stated pointing towards the forest he was referencing. "Also I'm going to need a crossbow bolt from your Scarlet."
Scarlet sighed and handed him one her crossbow bolts.
William stood behind the two waiting for them to begin moving again. "So we're just going in to find clues?" He asked.
Aragon dipped a bolt into the vial swirling it around as he walked towards the door "Find out where these fucks went. Damn assholes dragging us out to the brothel"
"Let's make this quick." Scarlet said as she followed Aragon and William following her.
"Agreed" Aragon said as he carefully handed her the bolt then whispered "Be careful with that bolt, keep it loaded and be careful with the tip. Don't fire it at normal people" Aragon said before walking inside the brothel letting out a sigh of disgust.
"Hey you blackstones! You boys looking for a great time inside? Be warned. We had two men walk out with a feisty woman who could've been a great for us." The clerk chirped, leaning against the counter seeing the two men and a peacekeeper behind them.
William wasn't entirely sure what the clerk was referring to. Feisty women? Perhaps the building was full of whores and prostitutes that he heard about it, and the building was some to get pleasure. As intriguing as that sounded he and his friends were on a missions. He looked to Aragon and Scarlet for a proper answer.
Scarlet seemed very irritated. She didn't want either of her friends to get distracted by the courtesans that filled the building. But most importantly she didn't want any of them going near William.
"We're just looking for information on some missing knights." Scarlet said. "We have reason to believe they passed through here."
"Knights? You're going have to be more specific lady. All Knights and travellers come here to have pleasure and get drunk." He tapping his finger on the counter. "
"But if your asking about your friends. The Blackstones right? They left with the feisty lady. Damn though. She's a devil one." He grabs a cloth nearby to clean his counter.
Scarlet gave an annoyed sigh and placed her hand on the front of her helmet. "Of course they did." She mumbled. "She moved her hand back down and looked back to the clerk. "Do you know which way they went?"
"Last time I checked from yesterday and today. Since another blackstone came here asking their friends. They went- to a forest not far from here. It's a river. A meters away from town." He tells her of the direction.
"Their Wagon and their stuff is there. So by all means." He snorts. "Assuming they got drunk and left it there."
Aragon sighed and then turned on his heel and walked out of the brothel, beginning to apply the clear liquid to his spear after he grabbed it from outside the brothel. Waiting for the other two to follow him
Scarlet followed with William tagging behind. "Let's hope they're still there." She said, annoyed. "Though I doubt it'll be that easy."
"Since when are our jobs easy my friend?" Aragon asked amused "especially when quite a few if the blackstones still dislike me for what I did when we first met, though I can't say I blame them."
"How do you think we'll find them?" Scarlet asked as her and William followed Aragon. "Hung over or dead?"
"Let's hope just hung over." William said. "Not sure what Vortiger will do if we come back empty handed."
As the trio leaves the area of the town to walks towards the woods. Walking down the hill but kept close as they are moving down since it's dark at night, Aragon kept checking around surroundings as a cautious man he is. When they arrived at the scene, the wagon is literally abandoned but there is two dead Blackstones, it's aldwin and Joseph laying on the ground. it's John's friend's that he was looking for. It was a sign of struggle that they are witnessing. But the third was nowhere to be seen.
"Well..." Scarlet spoke up. "There's two. Where's the third?"
William walked over to one of the corpses to inspect it. "Do you think the lady they were with did this?" He asked. The clerk definitely wasn't kidding when he said they were feisty, but this certainly wasn't his idea of a good time.
"Obviously not." Aragon said as he inspected one of their bodies and then looked around "I may not have liked em but one woman couldn't have killed them and caused this big of a fight"
"Great, now Vortiger is going to complain 'why didn't you get there sooner? They would've been alive if you were faster! It's all your fault'" Scarlet said, doing her attempt at a Vortiger impression.
A terror scream of agony can be heard in the distance throughout the woods causing Aragon, William and Scarlet to startle and getting their weapons ready. Another voice can be heard but this time it's a loud of laughter that is more than shouting for help. A group of people crying out of laughter. Yet causing another scream that if somebody getting tortured really bad.
"Scarlet, William. Let's go towards those screams, scarlet keep your crossbow ready." Aragon said as he walked towards the screams silently
Scarlet sighed and checked to see if her crossbow was loaded. She followed Aragon. William followed behind her and tried his very hardest to make as less clanking with his armor as he could.
When the trip walks slowly at the scene where the scream is being heard, before they arrived at the area. The area is open, only few stumps of cutdown tree. And torches are set up around in circles. Group of men are gathering holding their swords and crossbows. Tiberius gets up from his sitting spot. Holding a knife and walking up to the man is hanging in air of a tree in the middle, its John who went missing recently to look for his friends. Tiberius stops his tracks to face the Blackstone Knight.
"Alright boys! You ready for this!?" Tiberius roared to the group, they raised their swords in air. Shouting of agreeing with him. "That's what I thought!" He shift his head to look at John who is beaten badly and bruised up, cuts on his cheek.
"Wait wait! Please!- ARRGHH!!" John lets out a scream but mix with blood coming out of his mouth, as Tiberius stabs his stomach, cutting his stomach wide open, he drops the knife on the ground. He shoves his arm into his stomach and guts came out. pool of blood splatters on the ground. He cleans his bloodied hands. Walking back to the group.
Tiberius grabs the Blackstone helmet, walking to his horse. He grabs a cloth to clean his bloody hands. He hops on his horse to get ready to leave. "I'm going take my leave and use this helmet as proof of kills. You guys can clean up this mess!" Tiberius laughs as he slaps his reins on the horse to leave. The horse wines and runs through the forest to leave the few men alone.
Aragon whispered to Scarlet. "Pick your target if you want to Scarlet. Whoever you hit with that bolt is guaranteed to die.. in a rather painful way" Aragon explained quietly as he looked back to the scene and grimaced with the sounds of pain. Aragon may not have been the biggest fan of most blackstones but he would remember that conqueror, and he would make sure he choked on his own blood.
"How many do you see?" Scarlet whispered. "I don't want to pick a fight we can't win."
Aragon Inspected the group to see how many there were, not expecting only a few
"Alright guys you heard the man. Let's clean this up and burn the body. And you three go scout the area. Last thing I want is damn bandits coming around to ambush us." The Merc informed the group, they all nodded and the three went to separate to scout the area, leaving the two alone. To clean up the scene.
Scarlet fired her bolt to the closest one she could see and quickly tried to reload her next bolt.
The second merc went down as the bolt pierced through his skull before he was about about to help the his fellow friend and the other merc who witness his friend who died. He drops his knife on the ground. Getting his sword to look around. "Who's out there!'
Aragon smiled and crept along the forest quietly until he was near the merc. He rushed forward and put the man in a headlock to knock him unconscious. "William, put the dead man's body in the river. It'll float downstream without anyone knowing what happened" Aragon explained quietly
William followed Aragon's instructions and quietly placed the body in the river.
Aragon stood up with the unconscious mercenary over his shoulder "Lets get back to the group and ask this kind fellow some questions, it's the least we can do for what he did to John" Aragon stated as he began walking back to where the blackstone camp was.
Next Morning...
Mercy is sleeping on her cot with blank covering all over her. The book is set next to her, her brunette hair is loosen up over on the pillow. Holden opens the flaps of her tent to see Mercy asleep. He walks up to her and tapped on her shoulder.
"Hey Mercy. I got urgent news from Apollyon." He whispered to her. But Mercy rolls over to the other side of the bed.
"Mmm. What is it... Today is supposed to be my sleeping schedule." She mutters, but with tiredness in her voice. she has her eyes closed still of still getting some sleep.
"it's important. Apollyon wants you now. The camp is being locked down." He said to her. Causing Mercy to open her eyes wide sitting up from her bed, she looks at him slowly.
"Mercenaries are hunting us. Three people are dead." Holden replied quietly.
"What?... How?"
"I don't have the details. But Apollyon wants you and the others to act. She's doubling the patrols and guards in this camp. So get up and meet with her." Holden said as he walks out of her tent, opening the flaps to join with the others.
She falls down at her bed, laying her head down at the pillow once again. She let out a groan of frustration.
"Are you fucking kidding me? We got people hunting us? That's unusual for the iron legion to hire a group from the outside."
The Blackstone high ranks is either standing or sitting at the table, Apollyon is sitting at the front tapping her claw on the wooden table and next to her left is Kanis. Vortiger is leaning against the shelfs. Merlin and her other two elite blackstones sitting together.
"Who cares about that. Three of our people are dead. You heard Aragon and the other said. They ripped John open like a damn cattle." Thomas reiterated, gripping his knees in anger.
Mercy comes inside the tent by opening the flaps. Wearing her blackstones uniform and her hood is up and face helmet covering her face. "My apologies that im late-"
"Mercy! What the hell! Why didn't you go look for John! He was missing yesterday and I heard news that my own friend is killed!" The knight spats.
"W-What? I just arrived here! I was not informed of this." She stammered.
"You're a peacekeeper for a reason! To look for people who scout! Why didn't you get to him sooner before he left!!" He yells at her.
"I had off duty after gathering supplies for the camp! I'll not take blame for this." She argued with him.
Apollyon would only be sat in silence to hear the words of the others. She simply wanted to hear their thoughts upon the matter at hand. "Mercy speaks of the truth, she merely arrived at the camp yesterday." Apollyon spoke, finally breaking her silence.
"My guess is that the three were lured into a trap by their chosen woman." Kanis spoke aloud as well as he rose his head from the hunting knife he sharpened in hand. "The entire place must have been a set up for us all.."
"What's going on here exactly?" She said confused, looking at the others. Normally she's a quiet person but this situation is way different than usual. "Did the missing knights showed up? Or am I missing something?"
"The three missing were found, but they were butchered and put on display.." Apollyon simply explained to mercy as she rose her head to look upon her from her chair. "We cannot have this situation repeat itself, for if we must end it-we must search for these animals.." She said again, looking at all those whom sat and stood around the table.
"Jesus..." Mercy mutters under her breath. So much for sleeping. "Could it about your rivals Master? Last time we talked. You mentioned you had enemies in your past... It could be a retaliation." She suggested, looks up to Apollyon and the others.
"It could be retaliation, or some cowards trying to make a name for themselves..." Kanis chimed in as he looked over to mercy behind his hood. "Whomever they may be, we will get to the the bottom of it." He said confidently as he crossed his arms and sat back within his chair.
"If it is retaliation, then we must strike as hard as they have and end this matter before it takes a turn for the worst. Maybe they could have been from this, newly hired legion..." She pondered the idea out loud as she gently ran a clawed finger against her chin.
Aragon finally stood up and tapped his spear on the ground "These men wear standards of no legion here in heathmoor so I can only assume they are hired from outside of heathmoor. HOWEVER" Aragon stated boldly "I was able to capture one of the members of this organization, so we may now interrogate them and find out what they want. I took the liberty of asking Bilè to soften him up for you Apollyon." Aragon finished speaking then looked to everyone.
"Then these men must be the ones the Iron Legion have hired.." Apollyon spoke aloud to everyone. "I do hope he is punished throughly, sometimes a man still has a bit a strength left even when beaten into a pulp..." She then said in an eerily wicked toe. "Once we have the information we need upon this hired legion, we will then make our moves..."
Amorges is sitting with the others at the campfire counting the steels that check came in from the iron legion and giving the Blackstone helmets as proofs. Tiberius is giggling madly as he count his steels that he was given by the iron legion who came by.
"15k... Fuck yes!!! You heard that Ambrosius!!? 15 fucking k for each one if us!!" Tiberius whooped, shoving his bag of steels in air of victory.
"I get paid too fully. I done most of the work to get those disgusting two men to almost seduce me..." Grace snarls at him.
"Nah. You get half. That's it."
"That's BULLSHIT! I did most of the work!" She spat.
"Just give her the damn money." Ambrosius sighs in annoyance, Tiberius scoffs before he pours steels in her hands and she gave a smirk. Getting up from her log.
"Next time. Send someone else to do your own dirty work." She hissed, she sits back at her log to count her steels.
"Malcolm is paying us well. As long we follow the rules in this land, we'll be going home. And people will remember us of what we did here today." Amorges replies.
Tiberius chuckles, looking up to Amorges. "There's still more of them out there. Hiding like rats."
"I know they are. But for now. We need to leave this temporary camp and head back to the main of operations. Our main base camp." Amorges said as he gets up. " I have a meeting with Malcolm and the others, and you three head back and wait for further instructions. Got it?"
"Don't you think they will find out that we killed one of theirs?" Ambrosius spoke.
"If they found out. Well..." He started to chuckle. "It make things interesting. But I must take my leave. You two take care and don't do nothing stupid while I'm gone. That means you Tiberius."
"You got it boss. No promises." Tiberius letting out crept smile at him.
phewwww what a long writing of work! I hope you enjoy reading this chapter! I'm still improving my Grammers and errors! things are about to get spicy :) stay tuned for future chapters!
if I missed anything! I'll fix some words after the release!