I do not own the rights to the For honor game, that being said enjoy!

Chapter 3. The swamp

William followed Sayori deeper into the forest as they made their way. it had been weeks and knowing the location of the fortress it would be a few more weeks before they reached the True heart of the Myre and the city but Sayori didn't seem to care, the ground got wetter as they walked further and further into the forests. As they continued further Sayori took step after step in careful places and looked over to William.

"be careful where you are stepping" William looked at the seemingly normal ground as he looked back at Sayori who was still looking at him. it had been weeks of traveling and still nothing from her, she barley spoke rarely ate and he had never seen her take of her mask. what made William so curious was the reasons why, it could be that she just didn't trust him but he felt it was more than just that. William took each step that she did and followed her a little closer than normal.

Sayori looked behind herself as she saw William closely behind her following her steps when she stopped to look around as William stopped close behind her.

"what is it?" William said as he looked down to his feet wondering if he would sink.

"there is someone here, with us" William gripped the hold on his sword as he looked around. Sayori looked the right and spotted the ruins of a temple as she looked to William and pointed to them. "Go there" William nodded as he stomped his way through the muck till he felt stone underneath his boots. Sayori looked around as she slowly made her way to the temple and joined William.

Night fell quickly after they began walking on the stone, William looked at his helmet reflecting the glow of the fire as he looked up at Sayori who was sitting monk style with her eyes closed. William stood up and walked closer to the fire. Sayori opened her eyes and looked at William as he sat down.

"so why are they hunting you?" Sayori looked at William from behind her mask and looked at the fire for a moment.

"I am a threat to they're plans to dethrone the emperor and replace her with their own" William looked at her with confusion.

"what's your part in all this" As William had asked her, he noticed a blade emerge from the entryway of the shrine. He stood up with Sayori at the same time as they looked at the Orochi blade drawn walking towards them as a Kensei and another Nobushi walked out behind him.

"IF she hasn't told you, she probably doesn't plan to keep you alive for much longer, Dog" William gripped the handle on his sword as they encircled the two of them, forcing them to get closer till William felt the cloth from Sayori's robe behind his free hand. "personally, I don't blame her, after all the grand daughter of the Emperor asking for help from a foreign dog, I've never heard of anything more dishonorable" William looked at Sayori who kicked her Naginata from the ground and into her hands at the ready. William readied his own sword as the Kensei was walking around them with the Nobushi looking at William, while the Orochi was in front of Sayori. William looked around at the Kensei as they looked straight at each other before he positioned his sword resting on his arm ready for an attack.

"I'm sorry if I don't take your word for granted" William said as the Kesnei glared at him.

"your just as stupid as she is if you think she wont stab you in the back" the Nobushi took a step forward and raised her spear as William tilted his sword to counter as she brought it down. Sayori also took the defense as the Orochi advanced with his sword to the left. Sayori took a step back and hiked up on her leg as the Orochi brought his sword down missing her as she brought her naginata down on his right-side puncturing past the plate and into his side. Ben caught the Nobushi's spear and slid it to the ground before he smacked her with his gauntlet knocking her back and into a pillar a few steps away. William looked at the Kensei who was a few feet to his right as he walked to his helmet and grabbed it. William popped his neck as he walked over to the Nobushi who was in a stance again as he sped forward with his sword coming down as it was caught on her spear, Sayori danced around the Orochi as it seemed he wasn't able to land a hit, every time he would make a move she countered with beauty as William couldn't help but look in between clashes with his own enemy.

The Kensei stood by and watched as William and Sayori fought off the others, First Sayori managed to poke the Orochi to slow him down and finally drop to the ground, as William and the Nobushi managed to block each other blow for blow. William would swing from the left or the right only to be parried, and if she attacked from the top or the right, he would catch it. It was swift and cautious up until the moment when she made a flaw and William caught it, she moved to the right as William's sword clashed with the spear dragging it down again, William struck her again this time knocking her down as he brought down the blade into her chest, William knelt for a second as he caught his breath before he stood up and looked over to the Kensei who stood over by the opening of the grounds.

"Honda, this wont solve anything, all you'll prove is that your not fit to lead anybody" the Kensei gripped the end of his blade as he got himself into a battle stance while he looked straight at Sayori, William looked over to her before he placed his blade onto the ground and looked at the two of them.

For a minute they didn't move, they just stood there, Honda with his nodachi in an Defensive stance to the right as Sayori took a more Offensive stance above, they examined each other when Sayori moved first. She went from the top only missing her mark by an inch when Honda moved to the right and attacked. Sayori saw the blade coming as it grazed her coat slicing off a sizable piece. She took a step back as they moved in a circle before Honda struck next. He swung from the left to the right as he advanced towards her step by step as she deflected each stroke when she lashed out and came down from the top, Honda countered as his Nodachi came from nowhere and clashed with her Naginata, over and over until with one final sweep Honda disarmed Sayori throwing her Naginata over by William. She felt the cold steep press against her chin as William clanked his sword on the ground alerting them of his presence. They both looked at him as he grabbed his grip and looked straight at Honda.

"stand aside dog, and maybe ill let you live long enough to go home" William shook his head as he took a deep sigh.

"keep calling me dog, and you wont live long enough to regret it" William could see the fire in Honda's eyes as he switched his fury from Sayori to him. William readied as Honda launched himself Straight for William.

He glanced the blade straight down and head butted him causing Honda to take a step back, William launch forward bringing his blade down barley missing Honda's shoulder and slicing off the shoulder pad. Honda got his bearings soon after readied himself for what was to come next, but it wouldn't matter for long. William slammed his shoulder into Honda throwing him into a pillar a few feet behind him as William grabbed him and threw him to the ground bringing his sword down landing it straight onto Honda's helmet and striking a blow onto his right eye. Honda hissed in pain as he got up and looked at William,

"Fuck you Dog!" as Honda finished speaking, he threw a Smoke pellet to the ground causing Both William and Sayori to begin coughing. When the smoke faded Honda was missing as William and Sayori looked around but gave up soon after they began. Sayori walked over to her spear and picked it up looking at William.

"my thanks" William looked at Sayori, it was difficult to see any emotion with him underneath his Loran helm, but she had hoped he didn't believe Hondas words. William remained wordless as Sayori looked around again for Honda when the silence forced her to turn around to see William with a firm grip on his longsword looking right at her. "what is the problem?"

"is what he said true?" Sayori looked at William puzzled unsure what he meant.

"I don't know what you mean"

"that you were just keeping me alive until you needed?" Sayori looked at William a little agitated by his accusation.

"your drawing a thin line, you should find your words" William shook his head.

"you never answered the question" William said as he tightened his grip on his sword as he took off his helmet staring at Sayori with anger behind his eyes. Sayori looked at William concerned and after a while she cleared her throat.

"no, I hadn't planned to kill you, I needed your help and I still do"

"and what about after that?" William said pointing his helmet at her. "what happens after you don't need me anymore"

"your letting Honda get into your head" William continued to look at her unphased by what she said.

"what's my name?" Sayori took a step back as she seemed to be confused but with her mask still on William count tell.

"what?" William took a step forward as Sayori took another step back.

"I asked what my name is, we've been traveling for weeks now but you don't know my name, do you?" Sayori stayed silent as William stopped walking. "and you were planning on killing me when you had the chance" William shook his head before he put his helmet back on and started to walk past Sayori.

"where are you going?" Sayori said as she attempted to grab William's arm. William shook her off as he tried to walk forward as she caught his arm again making him face her, William grabbed her arm and threw her to the side and looked at her.

"you lied to me, and for that I have no reason to help you, I may some knight who you found in the forest, but at least I have a sense of Honor" Sayori stood up as looked at William as he walked off clear enough he could tell she was livid.

"abandoning me doesn't mean you have honor; Honda was right you are just a stupid dog!" William stopped dead in his tracks as he turned around to face her. Sayori was in a stance ready for whatever William would do. William himself readied himself into a stance as they looked at each other and thought of what the other would do but still not sure.

Finally, William broke the stare down as he lunged forward coming straight down. Sayori was able to block the strike but didn't count on how fast William would be with a follow up as he grabbed her arm and smacked her with the pommel of his sword sending her to the side with a dizzy head. William moved his sword to the left as he saw her come at him in a haze swiping from her right, As she came at him William counters and sent the tip of her spear into the stone and again he smacked her this time with his hand. William grabbed the spear from its place in the stone and threw it at her as it clanked onto the ground infron of Saypri who was still trying to get unhazy as a scream could be heard forcing him to divert and look at the entrance. William waited for another enemy to come through but instead he noticed a small girl as she sprinted into the small area hiding as far away from the entry way as she could. William lowered the end of his sword as two men came in and looked around.

"where did she go?" William looked at the two men each armed with a sword before he looked at his own. The two men looked at William and readied their weapons as they stepped further inside. William readied himself as he looked over to the small child. "where's the little girl?"

"what do you want with her" William said as he readied his sword aimed for the man to his left, the man on the right kept his eye on William as he looked behind him to see Sayori still on the ground.

"what is it to you, Foreign dog" William clenched his sword and changed to an offensive stance.

"I'm getting really tired of people calling me that" the man on the left sprinted at William who deflected the blade knocking the two men together. William grabbed the man on the right and slammed him into his friend as they both went to the ground one on top of the other as he brought down his sword straight down into them both.

He waited until the screaming stopped before he took his blade from the bodies as he looked over to the little girl in the corner clutching a piece of rotten door. He took a step forward but stopped as he heard the little girl whimper and her breath quicken, William laid his sword on the ground as he slowly moved his helmet off and placed it next to the blade as he tried to smile and make sure he didn't seem a threat. The little girl peaked from behind the door and looked at the now normal looking warden dressed in black iron.

"I don't mean any harm" William said as he beckoned her to come closer, the little girl came out from the door and came closer to William. he looked closer as he looked at her and noticed the flower pattern on her dress and the small doll in her right hand. "what are you doing in this place?" William looked at the little girl who looked just as confused as he did.

"Watashi no mura wa yōsai no kōgai ni ari, karera no yō ni takusan no hito ga kite zen'in o koroshi, sharin no ue no kyodaina inoshishi de yōsai ni ikimashita" William looked at the little girl as she finished what she was saying before he cleared his throat.

"I- I'm sorry, I don't understand" the girl looked at William the same way as he did when he heard Sayori getting up.

"she is from a small village on the outskirts of the nearby castle, those men are from a group of men who are going to try and attempt to take the castle"

"why were they after her" William said aimed for Sayori while he kept an eye on the girl. Sayori looked at the little girl.

"Naze karera wa anata no nochidatta no?" (Why were they chasing after you?) the little girl looked at her doll and back at Sayori.

"Watashinochichi wa ryōshu no samuraidesu" (my father is a Samurai in the lords court)

"she's the daughter of a samurai who is in service to the lord, I assume they were going to grab her for leverage" William looked at the little girl.

"which way is your Home?" William looked straight at the girl.

"Anata no ie wa dochiradesu ka?" (Which way is your home?) the little girl looked at him and pointed in the direction to the west of the shrine, William picked up his Helmet and sword before he tied his helmet onto his side and held his hand out for the little girl to take. Sayori looked at him as the little girl took his hand. "where are you going"

"to bring her back to her father" William walked with the little girl as they started to walk out of the shrine when he heard Sayori's footsteps in a puddle behind them.

"you don't know the way" She said as she started to make pace.

"that's why she's coming with me" William said as he saw her coming from his right.

"there will most likely going to be a camp"

"ill be quiet, and ill make sure she is too" William said as he looked to the little girl clutching his hand, William smiled trying to get her to smile in the process when he was spun around by Sayori.

"your going to get yourself killed" William sighed and looked around.

"I don't see Honda, do you?" Sayori shook her head. "that could mean that its his men going after this castle and that also means that if you don't plan to kill me you'll get another shot of stopping him, now you can either come along and make sure this little girl can see her father again, OR you can find another fool to trick and kill after you find another way to kill Honda, the choice is yours" William looked at the little girl as he sunk his sword into the water and picked her up and placed her on his shoulders to avoid getting her dress wet. The girl giggled as she grabbed his forehead as they started waking again. "make your choice Sayori, your losing ground"

"Alright fine, I'm coming… William" William smiled as he heard her footsteps in the water as they walked closer to Kazan Castle.

Feel free to leave any comments, it's always appreciated and welcomed and I'm sorry I haven't updated this for a while I've had writers block but now I think its cleared up