Chapter 7

Wolf Indentured

The full moon gave off an oddly generous amount of light upon the forest fence beyond which was far from any place where ears could hear and eyes could see. A soft wind graced the trees which made them shiver with the ever so persistence of the continuos trills of the singing crickets.

One of the towering pines had it's needles shaken violently due to the rattle of a human body being thrust into it's trunk. The the man who was thus dealt with was none other than the so called fur trader known as Radley.

He sunk to his buttocks in a bewildered manner and struggled to draw the breath that had escaped him. His senses were swiftly called to, when an axe sunk deep into the bark only inches from his right ear. He let off a shriek and shook his legs out of reaction then gaped up at the robust figure who was somewhat partly responsible for his own situation.

Radley arose with his hands out front in a pleading gesture and begged, "Please I wasn't trying to kill you, I was only attempting to bludgeon you with it!"

His tale could be valid to an open enough mind, for the axe was single bladed leaving the back end squared off and perfect for an impact weapon. Ranger, however, did not have such an open or understanding frame of mind.

"Whatever it was you were attempting to do,' said he with a tightly wound emphasis, 'it was a grave mistake on your behalf."

Radley then moved his right hand down, which was interpreted by the hood as a hostile motion to retrieve the axe next to him. Lunging forward, Ranger smacked the hand clear from the handle and barred the fool into the tree with his forearm pinning him by his throat.

Choking, the fur trader managed to cough out, "S-stop…i-t's…not…w-w-what you think it is!"

Slanting his head slightly and raising an eyebrow, Ranger replied almost callously, "Interesting, and just what is it that I am to think it is?"

"We aren't just merchants…!" squealed Radley as the pressure intensified.

"I have gathered that much." said the hood, "Whatever your motives, I care not. What is it that you have decided for the girl?"

With an aghast attempt, Radley chose to liberate himself by prying at the arm which held him back just enough to sink his teeth into the flesh. Ranger let out a grunt as he pulled back allowing Radley to take the axe out of it's embedded position and use it against his enemy.

Still overcoming from the gnawing sting left behind by a set of human teeth marks in his bleeding arm, Ranger leapt back as the steel of the blade barely nicked his leather vest then made a quick roll to evade the next swing as Radley came at him with crazed determination.

As Ranger got to a knee, the axe came down upon him who shot forth his palms and caught the top of the handle and stopped it with the blade only nigh at his forehead. Pushing up, the hood forced the handle up allowing himself to rise off the ground, but was kicked back in the chest by his enemy.

He stumbled backwards into a downed log that was angled off the ground due to a few neighboring trees that it rested upon. Radley rushed in again with the axe overhead and made a pitiful sounding war cry. In response, Ranger rolled up and over the log as the axe came down, which planted it into the wood. Ranger used the precious time to attain the upper hand by wrapping both hands around the log, swung underneath it with both knees chambered and belted Radley in the gut with a dual kick.

The fur trader hacked deeply and flew into a nearby tree stump. His blurred vision caught the cloudy delineation of the masked man approaching hastily upon him. Being without the axe, Radley pulled out his hunting knife and made a cross swing for Ranger's throat.

This time, being more prepared, Ranger leaned back causing the blade to miss, then grabbed hold of the wrist that had the knife, twisted it out of his possession before contorting Radley's arm into a position that had his hand laying flat on top of the stump with the palm facing upwards then drove the knife straight down with enough force for it to go through his hand and into the wood.

Radley let out a howling scream and dropped to both knees with his hand, that was nailed awkwardly to the stump, almost holding him up. His face went pale immediately with liquid beads of perspiration forming at the temples, soaking the hair and running down his temples.

The masked avenger then took hold of his lapel and brought him up at a harsh angle which caused for the injured arm to straighten and resist where the palm and stump were attached. This only amplified the hot flash bristling through the flesh of the fur trader as pain and shock began to overtake him.

"Tell me,' said Ranger calmly, 'are you ready to suffer for your comrades?"

Many brutes may think themselves so physically fit that they are beyond the persuasions of tangible pain and invulnerable to suffering. And, normally, when encountering exactly what it all entails, will find their will not so unbreakable.

For Radley, he had just discovered the doorway to the thresh hold of agony and was ready to shun the fight. "They're to take her….to…." he panted and could not think clearly to get the words.

"Where?" caromed the hood.

"Ezekiel…" is all he could muster in a response.

Ranger relinquished his hold upon the lapel and let fall the sufferer. Gasping and moaning in terrible anguish, Radley looked up through his tears and saw the masked man collecting his bow and the axe before hoisting the buck over his shoulders. He then proceeded to walk away.

Scrambling, yet restrained, the tortured Radley yelled out, "You can't just leave me here!"

Ranger then made reply to that frantic remark that was equal in indifference, "You are the master hunter, I am sure you will pull through."

Radley leaned up and looked at the knife which held him down. He could see in great detail through the bleeding, the skin and muscle of the hand. He took hold of the hilt and went to pull it free from it's corpulent housing, but only felt his body become void of all strength as the movement of the blade agitated the meat and scraped the bone.

Whining he looked back and begged for assistance but was only answered by Ranger's disappearing backside.

During this time to where the merchant's caravansary sitting, the fair Fabian was sitting within his own tent, and nervously groping the back of his neck. Interrupted were his dispirited thoughts when hearing a rather boisterous commotion without the walls of his tarp like shelter.

Arising he observed the source of the unrest, he found Ezekiel, Bjorn and a few others attempting to unhook Gallavaun from the wagon and lead him away. However, unbeknownst to these men, is that this particular animal would not suffer in the slightest to be manhandled by any other than it's master.

He pulled away and whinnied while rearing up and flashing his hooves as an imitating warning for any stranger to stay away. Fabian ran up and nearly bellowed with agitated intrusion, "What are you doing?"

Ezekiel turned his head slightly and replied, "Speeding up the process. Wolfgang is waiting and you know as well as I, he is not a patient man."

Coaxing with more perturbed reason, Fabian exacerbated, "Yes, I specifically told you to wait upon Radley first. If Alden overpowers him and he returns to see what has become of his companions and is free to enact satisfaction, Wolfgang will be delayed even longer."

Ezekiel merely shrugged and returned, "He is one man, we are many. What can he do to delay our agenda?"

Fabian became more anxious as though he were one anticipating a haunting presence growing stronger. "At the start I've had a bad feeling about this one."

With a slightly more annoyed hinderance in his voice, Ezekiel said, "You say that about all the 'ones' we've dealt with."

Fabian was about to defend himself more fully until the struggling Bjorn addressed them while avoiding the horse's wrath, "Can we save the conversation until after we get the beast under control?"

Ezekiel smiled evenly said as he turned away, "Tsk, tsk, how rude of me to break your concentration. Fabian why don't you help a fellow merchant out."

Nodding with a flustered restlessness, the fair merchant threw his lot in to assist the men in holding the irate shire down. The three men managed to take hold of the reigns and force the muzzle of Gallavaun down to face the earth, however the struggle was far from over. The horse pulled and stomped making it all the more hazardous for the men involved.

"Confound it, keep the creature still!" said Bjorn.

"I do not think it would be wise to attempt to make profit off of this beast." said Fabian struggling.

The fight went on with Fabian and Bjorn doing at best to subdue Gallavaun while the other was attempting to unhitch him from the wagon. The shire, when knowing that a stranger was at his backside, lifted up his hind legs and made a thrust with his hooves. The man jumped clear with only moments to spare and sat by the wheel a moment to rethink his strategy with Fabian pleading for him to hasten his efforts.

There was a disturbance within the shrubbery that caught his eye, he turned only to see a massive figure check him into the wagon. The man hit hard before having his head thrown into the ledge, then as he sunk, had his face kicked straightway into the wheel well.

Bjorn and Fabian hesitated a moment, for the perpetrator was the man which Fabian was making objection about. It was Ranger who had returned from his outing with Radley in very good health and in spirits that wished to make certain trespasses right.

He took only but a moment to examine the scene. Kaytaff, the crates and barrels along with his sword were missing. It was then that he could logistically rationalize that Holo was no longer present either.

He turned his attention to Bjorn and Fabian and hastily made his advance on them. Bjorn approached him with his hands out in an assertive manner and shouted words which were interpreted as the voice of reason.

In the darkness, Bjorn did not see immediately that Ranger was in possession of Radley's axe, which as he approached the clothing peddler, swung it down and planted it into the top arch of his left foot.

Bjorn yelled horribly before having his scalp seized and nose brought into Ranger's rising knee. Fabian was frozen in place, unsure what to do. As the hood approached him he could only sputter with a great regard for one's own well being, "Please, it's not what you think…."

Ranger grabbed hold of his throat, spun and pinned him over the wagon bed, "Of all the people you saw at the bridge you chose us.' said he with a hard nosed voice, 'I found it strange that despite being so paltry in salary you were insistent on striking a deal. Surely there were others who could have made the agreement with less strife than what we endured."

Fabian winced while coughing through fretful eyes. Ranger, continued, "What was it with my party that attracted you so? A strong and abled bodied looking man, a guard dog and a fetching young woman. That would bring in a high price to the right bidder, would it not?"

Ranger brought his scowl closer to Fabian's quivering brow, "You are slave traders."

The fair merchant wished to speak however the grip around his windpipe impeded the attempt. Therefore the palm of the Ranger let up only slightly, allowing the defendant to give utterance, "We're not…."

"Where is the girl?" interjected Ranger with straining hostility.

"The devil is going on here!?" came the voice of Ezekiel who overheard the commotion. Then asked with aggressive turmoil, "Where's Radley, what have you done with him?"

Ranger then set his eyes to the other side of the wagon and made an assenting motion for Ezekiel to look. The haunched individual then saw the mourning Bjorn rolling around while cradling his foot which had an axe handle shooting from his toes and concluded the Radley must be suffering in the like somewhere in the wilderness.

"Get him off me!" pled Fabian.

Ranger then turned him around and held him with an arm around his neck as a threat to keep Ezekiel at bay.

"Hold a moment,' returned Ezekiel, 'We are men of business, perhaps we can make a trade. You desire the woman?"

"What have you done with her?"

"It's nothing she hadn't assisted us with.' voiced Ezekiel with cynical delight, 'she took our offer over some home cooking. I must say that perhaps she will be better off in hands other than your own. She was quite famished considering how much she consumed and the time taken. She ate it so fast she had no time to taste the special ingredient."

"You sedated her."

"Simply put." jeered Ezekiel.

"You plan to sell her to a harem or brothel."

"We have something more special in mind. She's a nun, no? We simply plan on holding her for ransom from the church, once we receive the money, her liberty will be entrusted back into your care. And seeing the way you handle yourself, who knows? Perhaps you may find more rewarding employment serving as one of Wolfgang's body guards."

Jerking Fabian around a bit to keep him from struggling who gritted, "Ezekiel!"

Nodding to his dilemma, Ezekiel then added, "Plus, if you let my man go now, I will impart of you the share from the earnings obtained by the ransom."

Tightening his grip, Ranger coldly replied with absolute acetic defiance, "Her emancipation is not up for negotiation."

"That is what you think." returned Ezekiel who then whistled which called for the rest of the caravan members to come out numbering in three more. He then addressed to his assistance, "Subdue and bind him, for Wolfgang will fetch a high price for one who can perform hard labor."
He went to turn away leaving the other three to decide in which way they would handle to the matter in liberating their comrade. Ranger however chose to exercise a sliver of mercy and give them an ultimatum.

"I understand you wish to do as your told, however if you choose to pursue this course the only profit that will be obtained at your expense will be pain." said he as he snuck his arm under Fabian's shoulder and raised it over his head.

They looked at each other feverishly before Ezekiel turned about and ordered, "He's only one man!"

With a refueling of confounded courage the three men closed in. Fabian suddenly felt himself lifted up and had his shoulder taken out of place, he moaned horribly before being thrown into the trio.

They moved him off to the side and advanced their assault. One rushed forth with a motion to tackle but was countered by Ranger who swung his arm around his chest, turned and threw him to the ground then finished him with a stomp to the face.

He then caught the fist of an oncoming attack, swooped under with a thundering strike to the ribs with his elbow. The man let out a terrible gasp as his ribs endured a fracture which caused the greatest agony when he breathed. Ranger then reaped his leg out from behind him and slammed him into the ground.

The third man managed to turn and strike Ranger across the jaw, in which he stepped back for a recovery and looked more annoyed than hurt. The man then came forth with an attempt to thrust his foot into the masked man's gut.

Ranger grabbed the oncoming foot at the ankle, pulled his attacker out into a full split then put his boot on top of the man's thigh. Then with a downward press with the foot and an upward pull with the hands, the man's femur bone snapped up at a ninety degree angle.
Each man was disabled and moaning in agony, while Ezekiel was beginning to back away with great intimidation as his lack of security left him vulnerable and susceptible to the wrath of his enemy.

Ranger made his approach as Ezekiel began quaking with his hands up and began imploring as earnestly as his trepidation would allow to keep him from harm, "Wait now, we can be reasonable…!"

Ranger took hold of his lapels, turned and threw him into the wagon, next to his wounded comrades. The hood's shadow overtook Ezekiel as he said, "We are past reason."

"It's not too late! Please, I'll do anything, don't hurt me!"

Finding his imploring more on the level of aggravation than sensitivity, Ranger scrutinized, "Tell me what you have done with the woman and my possessions and we shall see."

Ezekiel shook with repudiation and attrition, "I can't tell you, he'd kill me…"

"That is a tender mercy compared to what I will do." said the hood as he kicked Ezekiel back into the bulkhead of the wagon, which dazed him enough to give Ranger time to position his skull by the ridge of the wheel.

"I know that she is in the possession of one Wolfgang. Where do I find him?" said the hood.

"I don't know!"

Ranger then grabbed the reigns that were on the driver's seat while keeping Ezekiel pinned down with his boot, then struck the back of the shire. Gallavaun began to move forward which pulled the wagon up and over the side of the villain's chin. The pressure of the wheel increased immensely upon Ezekiel's face in which he began to flail his arms wildly and beg for relief by offering compliance.

Pulling back on the reigns, Gallavaun pulled back yet held his ground, still keeping Ezekiel's jaw pressed.

"Did that stir your memory?" said the masked man with morbid rancor.

"He only meets us here, but never allows any of us to visit him at his encampment!"

"Does he not trust you?!"

"It's not that, we're not slave traders only providers!"

"A double role to your life of honest peddling and mercantile?" returned the hood with cynical criticism to the choice of lifestyle engaged by the merchants.

"Please, let me up!" begged Ezekiel.

"In which direction was the girl taken?"

Ezekiel painfully assented by pointing in the direction in which Holo was taken. Ranger then had the shire back away in which Ezekiel gasped loudly. However the interrogation was not bygone as of yet.

Pulling him from out from underneath the wagon, Ranger came close to Ezekiel and demanded to know with threatening dominance, "Is she to be defiled in any way?"

"How should I know wha…" Ezekiel's words were cut short when having his arm contorted in such a way that it repositioned his body partially on his stomach region.

"The church would never pay a ransom for a nun on her pilgrimage,' returned the freelancer with an aggressive wisdom, 'What is it that Wolfgang plans to do with her?"

Nervous to tell a lie, yet more terrified of what the truth might bring, Ezekiel could only mutter under the distress, "She will fetch a high price to whom ever she will be sold to."

Ranger then pressed the same matter again, "Once more I will ask, where is Wolfgang's camp?"

"I already told you…." Before the fretting individual could finish, his arm was twisted greatly.

"You lied to me. When we arrived, you had disappeared for a time. You could have gone to none other than the man himself. Aside, he must be close, to have taken the girl there and have returned before myself."

"I owe you nothing!" said Ezekiel with foolish defiance.

"Talk! Or I will invert every joint in your body!' returned the ever so angering Ranger, 'Starting with your fingers."

Ranger then slipped his grip around Ezekiel's thumb and began to pry back until it hit the resistance point, and then some.

Fearing disabled torture, Ezekiel finally let out, "To the north east, not even a mile. You will find Wolfgang's camp, it has many cages and armed men to defend the prisoners. Wolfgang plans to move her out tomorrow morning and sell her to a black market brothel! Your dog and weapons are there too!"

"Very well,' said the cutthroat, 'and just know,' he paused allowing Ezekiel the time to look up at him, 'If I find so much as a hair on her head mistreated I will return it upon your head a hundred fold."

Without another word Ranger made his point loudly clear by, taking the thumb back all the way until it snapped, twisting the wrist until it dislocated and reversed the natural direction of the forearm until the elbow inverted. It was quick and fine work that left Ezekiel unsure to pant or scream.

The most he could own up to in utterance was, "You son of a bitch!"

Fabian was sitting up and cradling his collar. He kicked away as the masked man approached him, who simply said, "I will retrieve the woman, begone when I return."

He then went around the other side to where Bjorn could be seen struggling and whimpering in agony. Ranger stepped upon the shin which possessed the injured foot and took hold of the axe handle, "I may need this." said he before pulling it free from his toes.

During this escapade there were a set of eyes a good league hence from where the devious merchants were camped that were closed with a drape of ocre colored hair the hung listlessly ore. In due time the brows cringed and the lashes slowly lifted allowing the red eyes behind to examine their surroundings.

The mind behind the eyes was sluggish at best to comprehend what the retinas were transmitting, for the mind was coming out of an induced slumber. All that could be assimilated by the groggy intelligence was a series of moving colors and inaudible sound affects.

Eventually a human figure was detected approaching the eyes, who leaned over and observed the awakening of the individual who owned them. He waived over in which a few more comparable figures approached and observed.

"Wolfgang, she's coming to…" said a foreign voice.

The head that housed the eyes languidly lifted up for the muscles that supported it were under the impairment of narcotics. A female groan sounded under the stress of delirium and fear.

At long last the mind was able to conceive all what around it. The eyes could see roughly half a dozen men who were engaging in various responsibilities. There were campfires positioned about and next to wagons that were inhumanely modified with high walls and chain posts nailed into the floor boards specifically for transporting human beings against their will.

It was concluded as thus for there were a few ragged looking individuals who were shackled and sitting within the wagon who were in every sense of the word, star crossed. The caravan could be identified with any slaver convoy by the stench alone. For it was customary with slave traders to keep their cargo bound and secured at all times. Though food and water would be brought to them, when the time came for the human body to release it's bowels they were not given the opportunity to take care of the function the way they saw fit. Therefore they had no other choice but to soil their own clothes as they traveled.

Looking on, the eyes saw some of the men attempting to pry open a few crates with wooden staves. Then immediately recognized one holding and examining a peculiar icon. It was the sword of Ranger.

Becoming panicked, Holo shook then found herself unable to move at liberty. Looking up she found herself bound with her hands high and tied to a wooden mast.

She then spoke with agitated wonder that demanded knowledge of the situation, "How dare you! What are you doing?!"

Another man approached her with a look of satisfaction, "Seems our little rose has finally awakened."

Exacerbating greatly, Holo inquired with a voice of dismay, "The man I was with, where is he?"

Tinging an eyebrow the cold hearted individual answered, "Oh I suspect he'll be joining us soon enough."

Fearing even more at what those words could imply, Holo shook violently to free herself.

Kneeling down and stroking her hair tenderly, which caused an uproar in her being, the man hushed her, "There, there my forest flower. You are to be entreated into our hospitality from here on out."

With limited options, Holo went to bite his hand. The man pulled back with an aggressive yell in which one of his comrades stated, "More like a forest viper, eh Wolfgang?"

Enraged, Wolfgang struck her with the back of his hand and bellowed, "You are in need of discipline child and I will be happy to break you!"

Still dazed from the blow, Holo did not fight back as Wolfgang suddenly picked off the pouch around her neck and peered into it.

"Is it coins?" asked the man standing next to him.

With an annoyed chortle Wolfgang tossed the pouch to him so that he may see for himself what was inside.

"Wheat? Is this a foolish practice among nuns now?" he sputtered in disbelief.

Regaining herself, Holo answered, "It is a reminder to me…"

"Of what?"

"That the day will come were the wheat will be gathered and the tares will be burned." said she with an intense grimace.

Wolfgang took the pouch and walked over to the fire and went to throw it in.

"PLEASE NO!" she screamed unexpectedly.

Wolfgang turned at her strange outburst, "What is it to you?"

"It is very important to me, please do not burn it, I will do anything!"

A dark complexion came over the man's face, "'Anything,' you say?" He then called out the other four men, "Alright then boys!"

Some of them laughed as they gathered together next to the fire then proceeded to cast lots.

"What is the meaning of this?" asked Holo with more alarm.

Striding up to her Wolfgang responded with libidinous want, "Money is scarce in these areas and a man has to keep his employees happy. Aside from that, like any other product, you don't sell it without knowing first….how well it performs."

Gaping in horror when coming to the full realization of what these profane men had in mind, Holo pled with all ernest of soul not to be abused in such a way, "No please, I beg of you!"

With fraudulent sympathy, Wolfgang replied, "I would if such an opportunity was not so rare among us."

Her lips quivered as he went on to explain his motives in fuller detail, "You are a nun, no? If that is true than that means you must have taken upon yourself the oaths of celibacy. This makes you a rather preferred find among my men whom I must keep happy."

There was a great amount of jeering coming from the group of men as the champion of the game held up the winning lot. Some of the nearby slaves bowed their heads and went under the pretense that they did not seem to be disturbed by what was about to be witnessed.

"It appears that your first customer awaits." said Wolfgang.

"First?!" Holo stammered.

"ALL men must be satisfied tonight." returned Wolfgang. "But don't worry I will ensure that you will survive the night at least. After all you're no good to us dead."

The bound woman soon found herself surrounded by the group of whoremongers while the one with the winning lot came forth. Even more disgusted was she when concluding that the acts against her will would be publicly made visible.

She looked up to the man and begged with moistening eyes, "Please, I am with child…"

There was a pause among the pursuer, as Holo herself suddenly shut her eyes when recognizing her slip of the tongue. Wolfgang poised himself oddly then inquired with a conniving hint of lust in his voice, "A pregnant nun?"

He then jested while looking at the first man, "Then that can only mean that she has desired the appetites of the flesh before. Do not lie to us, secretly we all know you will enjoy this."

The men howled with loud laughter, while one excused himself while calling out, "I have to relieve myself, I will be back, assuming you will last that long." said he to the comrade who was to be first in having his way with Holo, then stood near the trees and bushes not too far off.

The man kneeled next to her and put his nose next to her cheek in which she pulled back while wanton hands repulsively caressed her side. His hand then stroked her hair before it went up and removed the hat. There was a great fear and awe shortly after.

"What in the hell?" stammered Wolfgang.

The flesh-peddler then opened his eyes to see the wolf ears atop her head. Before he could respond adequately, Holo let out a terrifying growl and snarled sharply while bearing her fangs and snapped savagely at the intruding face.

He stumbled away in cowardly aversion. Holo then threatened intensely, "If any of you lay a hand on me, I will tear your thing off and strangle you with your own manhood!"

The men heeded despite the woman being bound. Wolfgang recomposed himself and said, "This may prove more useful to us.

With an incredulous respire, one of the men voiced, "Are you insane? What brothel would pay for her? The church would burn us alive!"

With an unusually grim tone of intellect Wolfgang addressed that concern, "There is but one brothel a weak's journey from here who has a secret demand for more ambitious customers. Apparently there is a want for demon possessed girls. Supply and demand are so scarce but desired that her price will at least triple if not more. Plus we will be far from the church's reach."

The men seemed to agree on that recourse and made a mock at the wolf girl. One went as far as to say, "Tell me, demon or not, you think she will scream the same?"

Another responded, "I will give a share of my earnings to the one who is willing to find out."

The campground was filled with laughter which left Holo even more distraught and fearful of foreseeable defilement. The laughter was halted when the man who was in the process of relieving himself was suddenly pulled into the bushes as if swallowed by the bowels of the forest. His sudden yelp echoed and died away in the night's air.

Wolfgang's sudden appeal of self charm was forfeited with aggravated confusion as he stared off into the shrubbery along with the other five men.

"Lazlo?' called out Wolfgang, 'are you alright?"

He then motioned for another to go investigate, seeing how he was not answered. The other approached the foliage were his fellow slaver had disappeared and called out, "Lazlo?"

The hedges shook and rustled loudly followed by a coughing groan that was then silenced rather disturbingly. The man standing by then waived for the rest to accompany him. They then quitted the circle (save Wolfgang) and went to were their comrade was standing each arming themselves with staves, hatchets and knives.

Then, seeming out of nowhere, a rock the size of a grapefruit soared from out of the darkness of the trees and collided with face of the man standing by. He turned with a grunt before landing upon his knees and falling over without so much as a whimper.

The remaining party jumped back and then demanded in the direction in which the rock flew, "Come out where we can see you!"

Their crude insistence was answered rather quickly and upright brutally as a hulking figure emerged with a tuck and roll towards the nearest assailant he saw. With axe in hand he, when rolling to his feet, swung it towards the kneecap of the man, striking and breaking the joint with the poll. Then, as the man fell to the remaining knee, Ranger turned the blade about face and planted it into the side of the man's neck.

The axe was housed deep in the flesh allowing crimson spurts to flow out in intervals which doused and soaked his collar in sanguine fluids. He attempted to scream, but all that could be mustered was a loud gargle which sent blood spewing from his tongue and suffocating him slowly.

With a sorrowing rage, one of the men who was in possession of a stave, rushed in and tackled Ranger to the earth. Then mounted over him and began stamping wildly upon him with the small wooden beam. Ranger brought up his arms to shield himself from the blows which belted into his biceps and forearms.

The hood managed to grab the stave to prevent further bludgeoning, but his opponent took hold of the other end, barred it against Ranger's chest and threw his head into the bridge of his nose.

Ranger managed to push the stave up, pivot his hips to disrupt the balance and lob the man off him.

A scoundrel with a hatchet ran up to the downed Ranger and made ready to burrow it deep into his chest. In quick reaction, the hood shot forth his heels, hitting both shins of his attacker out causing the legs to shoot behind him. As he came falling down, Ranger caught hold of the neck of the hatchet, rolled over so that he may have the full mount. Then brought the hatchet down upon his attacker cleaving the skull.

The man with the stave regained himself, ran in and kicked Ranger over onto his back then went to stomp on his face. The masked combatant dodged the oncoming foot as it stamped into the grass by his ear, putting his attacker just above his eyes.

Ranger then pulled the hunting knife from his boot and thrust it upwards into the bottom groin region of his enemy. The blade penetrated the scrotum and was flourished causing the sensitive organs within to wrap and twist around the steel before it was vehemently pulled out, tearing the organs out with it and would have been fully exposed if not for the breeches.

With a white face and red eyes, the man buckled and yelled horridly as he fell on his back while grasping his afflicted area and vomiting profoundly .

Ranger then went to retrieve the axe that was still planted in the neck of a previous victim. Upon doing so he turned to see another facing him with his own sword in hand an made clear his threats to slay the hood with his own weapon.

Holo could see an unusual fire in the eyes of the warrior as if to take this act personally. Ranger began marching up to the man with the axe dripping with the life source of a fellow slaver. Backing up and trembling, the man swung for the head.

Ranger met the attack with a swing of his own, hitting the forearms with the blade of the axe which demolished the integrity of the bones. Then as the villain was recoiling, Ranger snuck his arms around the clearance of the broken forearms, contorted the hilt of the sword as to pry it from the man's grip. Then brought him down with the tip of the blade facing up to force the man to fall upon it. The blade pushed through the chest and out the back before the sufferer was gently turned over and allowed to fall off it.

He then turned his attention to Wolfgang who was standing next Holo and had the last of his slavers holding a stiletto to her throat.

"Take one more step and the demon girl goes back to hell!" threatened Wolfgang.

Ranger stopped and remained motionless with eyes that were too obscured to give away his thoughts. Wolfgang however, made his motives perfectly clear by saying, "I was going to find a way to trade her back to you, but you have slaughtered many good men. I'm afraid that we are taking her and selling her off now so that this trespass can be made up for."

Holo's face beckoned for the masked man to do something and motioned with her eyes that she begged not to be taken away. Ranger was still and immovable.

"What, you think we can still bargain?" said Wolfgang with a laugh, "I'm afraid that I do not bargain!"

Suddenly, without a word, Ranger slung his hunting knife with deadly velocity at the slaver who had Holo hostage. His head shot back as the blade sunk deep into his fore head and fell on his side.

Wolfgang looked at his downed comrade before being rapidly overtaken by the mask and hood. Before he had comprehended the lethalness of the man he had just crossed, Ranger's blade came from behind with a swing that reaped his leg out in front of him. Then as he fell the blade came back and decapitated him while still in mid air.

"Neither do I." said Ranger as he wiped the edges clean.

He then pulled his hunting knife from the skull of the man who had Holo hostage and used it to cut the she wolf free. Rubbing her wrists she made a timid attempt to thank her savior, however he turned away with a sore temperament before going to each man he had gone up against and cut their throats to ensure there would be none to tell of any what they had seen.

Their corpses would then be left to the prey of wild beasts and birds to devour. The masked man then whistled in which the mighty Gallavaun obediently pulled the wagon from beyond the trees and into the camp.

He then searched the area and found his crates and barrels and loaded them into the storage he found Kaytaff, laying on his side and breathing heavily, he eyes were partly open and was non responsive for he was sedated. In his thigh was a small dart in which Ranger gathered was the means for putting the animal to sleep.

Petting him and seemingly grieved that his four legged companion was mistreated, Ranger gently picked the shepherd dog up and laid him in the wagon.

Holo had not moved, for the remedy used to sedate her still had an adverse effect on her muscles which made walking too difficult on her own so she only lay perched on a side hip.

He approached her, yet his intent was not to help her up, instead he searched the headless corpse of Wolfgang. He found a set of shackle keys and turned his attention on the wagon with the slaves.

They grew weary of his approach but remained silent. Ranger then unlocked their shackles and said, "You are free to do what ever you wish, however should you make mention to anyone what has transpired here, it will be the last day that your eyes will ever see."

The slaves looked at each other and chose not to quit the wagon until Ranger and the wolf girl had departed.

Holo was weakly crawling and could not make it to her feet, she then pled to the masked man, "Please, I need help I cannot stand nor climb into the wagon."

Ranger only peered at her with scolding eyes. For he was most displeased, and she knew for why.

Finally she blurted, "I am sorry I did not heed your instructions! It was my fault that this happened. Please forgive me, I was so hungry!" she cried.

Ranger let out a respire, walked over and lifted her off the ground. She could feel the intensity in his arms as he carried her over to the back of the wagon and carefully let her in. She was in no condition to be in the driver's box for she would surely fall off. She took a moment to look around and found a carcass of a buck and a few other belongings that were not originally in their possession and only assumed that Ranger took a few extra provisions from the merchant's camp.

Situating herself, Holo returned with humility, "Thank you. I know what I did was irresponsible."

Staring at her for a long moment, Ranger replied with a gentle yet forceful rebuke, "Yes. You cannot let simple temptations cloud your judgment. I specifically told you that I would provide for ourselves and to not take anything or leave the tent. You disobeyed and look what has come of it. This all could have been avoided."

Then changing his tone to being more sympathetic to Holo's saddening face, said, "Always remember that a single moment's neglect can lead to a lifetime of regret. You must put personal wants aside and see how much impact a single choice can have. What if I were not able to come to your aid? You would have been given to the church, Jurgen would have no need to keep Lawrence alive and your child would have perished. And all that Jabari and Angelo fought and died for would have been in vain."

Holo took the reprimand silently and respectfully, with her ears drooping low. For she knew that behind his words were great elements of truth.

Then as a last word, Ranger said, "I expected more from a creature who took upon herself the mantle of, 'the wise wolf.'"

Then seeing no need to speak on the subject more, Ranger shut the wagon gate, took his spot in the driver's seat and slapped the reigns.