"Well, this is embarrassing." Finn muttered to himself.
Leaning over the unconscious kid and Finn tried to shake him awake. As he did Finn took a better look at the kid.
Besides the two-tone hair and damaged clothes, the kid was also covered in dirt and had collected numerous deep scratches, probably from running into the woods, which were still bleeding slightly. Finn frowned at that, depending on how long he has been out here a couple of those scratches could have become infected.
As Finn continued to slowly prod the kid, his eyes slowly flickered open. They looked blearily around until they landed on Finn. Fear shot through the boy like an arrow wiping away the drowsiness from his eyes. He let out a startled screech as he crawled backwards away from Finn. He crawled until his back hit the tree he fell from, he tried to move around it, but couldn't as his fear-stricken eyes have remained locked on Finn.
Finn took three long steps away from the kid, raising his hands up palm facing the kid. He made his posture as non-threating as possible.
They stayed like that for what felt like hours, but eventually the kids breath even out and the all encompassing fear in his eyes disappeared. Though it was immediately replaced with weariness.
Finn smiled calmly and made a show of very slowly reaching into his gambeson. His eyes flickered around and opened his menu and went through his inventory, finding what he was looking for Finn pulled out his hand. In his palm was some of the leftovers of his dinner last night, smoked and salted monster meat. He held the food out to the kid and waited.
As soon as the food was out in the open, the kid's eyes shot to it. His mouth opened slightly as the smell of it hit his nose, drool gathered in his mouth. He looked from the food then to Finn and took a slight step forward. When Finn didn't move, he took another step, then another. After a few more shuffling steps the kid was within arms reach. He extended a hand towards the food and shot on more look Finn's way, then with as much speed as he could muster snatched the food from Finn's head and ran back towards the tree. When he reached it, he circled around to put the base of the trunk between him and Finn. With that done he sat down and tore into the meat.
Finn waited until the kid paused in his eating to speak up. "So, uh, what's your name?"
The kid stopped chewing at Finn's voice. For several seconds there was silence and Finn thought he wouldn't speak till he heard a tiny voice, rough from disuse. "Keel."
"Keel." Finn said. He smiled and tried to keep his voice gentle. "What happened to you?"
After another lengthy pause Keel began to speak of what happened to him. "It was a normal sunny day. I was out playing with my friends when the sky turned red."
Keel curled up into a ball and hugged himself. "None of us knew what was going on. We just stared up at the sky. Then there was this cracking sound, like a bunch of glass windows just all broke at the same time."
He started to rock back and forth. His voice going distant. "Then the monsters came and… and started killing everyone."
Finn risked a stepped forward when Keel said that and when he didn't react. Finn took that as permission to make his way forward to Keel. He stood and rested against the tree to get a better look at Keel.
Keel was still rocking in place but now Finn could see the clear stream of tears running down his face cutting a clear line though the dirt and grime that covered it.
"I… I saw people I knew all my life die, th… there was a giant dog with three heads it ripped apart this old lady I knew that always made cookies for me to eat."
Keel took a shuddering breath and continued.
"Dad grabbed as many of us as he could and dragged us into a storm cellar. He could of stayed with us but even in there we could still hear the screams. So, dad looked at me say he'll be back and left closing the cellar doors behind him."
Keel turned to Finn, a miserable look on his face.
"He didn't come back. After that we stayed in the cellar for what felt like days until the noise died down. When we came back up the village was gone, every house was reduced to rubble and th… there wasn't even any bodies left. Then… then those soldiers came."
The sadness in Keel's was replaced with something uglier.
"They took us, dragged us from our homes and put us in chains and cages, fed us scraps and then one by one they took them away. I couldn't do anything. Just watch as everything, everyone was taken away. Then it was my turn. As I was being carried away in a cage in the back of a cart, I was able to slip through the bars and run away."
Keel let out a short barking laugh.
"I was in the trees before they even knew I was gone. They came running after me soon enough, but I was small and quick and was able lose them in the forest for a time. I made it to the river when they cornered me. Thought that was it, then those fish things burst from the water and fought those bastards. I hid in a tree to wait them all out."
Keel turn to give Finn a petulant glare.
"Then you threw a rock at me."
"Sorry." Finn said reflexively. His head rested against the tree as he processed the tale Keel weaved him. He mentally ran over his options at this point, but only one was palatable to him. "Do you know where that camp is?"
Keel turned a curious gaze towards Finn, then his eyes widen as Finn's words registered in his ears. "No, but I know someone who does."
"Well then." Finn said. He realized who Keel was talking about and a smile crossed his lips. "Let's go talk to him then."
"Talk!" Keel shrilled. His voice cracking. "What makes you think he'll tell you."
"Eh." Finn said. Nonchalantly waving off Keel's concerns Finn turned and headed towards the direction Captain Bennett pointed out. "I'll figure something out."
"Wait!" Keel shouted. He scurried up from where he sat and ran to Finn's side. He latched on to Finn's sleeve in a fever grip. Let me come with you!"
Finn looked at Keel, searching for something in the younger kid. Finn blinked once, twice and nodded.
"Fine you can come, but you have to listen to me." He said.
"Yes!" Keel agreed, nodding his head so fast that Finn thought it might pop off.
Finn sighed rubbed his nose and walked to the Outpost with Keel in tow.
Outpost Callum was one of several forts that the kingdom had set up within the various territories that border Melromarc. Centered around a tower tall enough to see towards the horizon, it had several stone buildings and a couple of tents set within a fortress wall.
It was a place for soldiers, couriers, or anyone working for the kingdom to rest in a fortified position designed to withstand random monster attacks. It was staffed by constantly rotating garrisons, whose job was to keep the place and the territory it was in secured.
The current people that were stationed here were that under Bennett's command. It was a position of great honor to be entrusted with the safety of the people of Melromarc.
It was also one of the worst most dead-end position one could be forced to have within the military. Stranded in a hostile environment with a low rate of pay and high chance of death. So, to survive out here and earn a living one had to find alternate sources of income.
"To the Fallen!" Captain Bennett bellowed out and cheer was echoed out through Outpost Callum. The cheer was warranted as he and his men made it back to Outpost Calam without further incident.
Well, what's left of my men. Bennett thought. Bitterly he slammed his mug on the table with enough force that there was a chance it or the mug would break.
He took a look at his gathered men and knew his opinion was one of solidarity among them.
"That bastard!" snarled one of them, a man by the name of Jared. "We lost good people because of that fucker."
Mutters of agreement echoed out from the others. This embolden Jared and he continued.
"We shouldn't have just stop looking for him. I say we track the mutt down and put him down!" Jared said, his plan electing even more cheers.
"With what people?" Bennett asked. Unlike Jared's loud booming voice, Bennett's tone was kept at a conversational leveled and measured. It was still enough to quiet all conversations in the makeshift tavern. "Of those that made it back, half of my men are still being attended to by the healers stationed here and won't be ready to move till morning. Even if they could with the sun going down traveling through the monster infested woodlands is suicidal at best."
"So, we just let him go?!" Jared asked. His voice incredulous.
"Weren't you listening to the captain." Another one of Bennett's men spoke up in his defense. "The mutt is probably dead already."
"And if he isn't?" Jared continued to prod, not for any other reason than with Bennett could assume was a desire not to appear weak infront of everyone.
"Then that Adventurer he hired would bring him back here." Some new voice chimed in.
That Adventurer. Bennett mused. Something about him was clawing at the back of my head. Something familiar but I just couldn't place it.
"But what a waste of gold we could of made off him."
"Eh, we made plenty of money from the rest of."
"Quiet!" Bennett snapped as he looked around the room. Only his men were inside, but you never know when someone could be listening. When he saw no one else was around Bennett let himself relax slightly, not all the way though as he was incensed. "Do not talk about such things were anyone and there dog can hear you."
"Sorry, captain." The apologies were repeated by everyone gathered there.
Honestly this wouldn't have been nearly as much trouble twenty years ago. Before the new laws the Queen had enacted. The ever increasing restrictions on the slave trade made it as close to illegal as possible to sell the people of Melromarc within Melromarc. There were too many hoops to jump through to sell every weary traveler that he came upon anymore.
That was why the Waves of Calamity were such a godsend. With so much chaos and monsters running rampant it was easy enough to disappear a few lowly animals and claim them dead. From there he had to reach out to a few people, set up a few deals, and quieted a few discontented voices. He couldn't do it all alone course but then that's what having friends in high places means. But if that makes it to people who actually care about things like that then he would be in trouble. Fortunately, the chances of that happening were slim and getting slimmer every day.
"Sir!" A solider walked into the room and made his way to Bennett. Not one of Bennett's men but one that was stationed here at the outpost. "There is some Adventurer here to see you."
Bennett stood up abruptly, the sudden movement startling his men. Bennett paid it and them no mind. He marched to the door and walked out of the tavern and made his way to the front gate.
As he made his way there his men pulled from the tavern and surrounding area to follow him. The party he took to deliver the child was but a fraction of the men station here, and even though most of them didn't have a clue about his secondary source of income, they were still loyal enough to follow his orders.
Making it to the gate Bennett saw there flanked by two soldiers was the adventurer, Finn. Bennett took a closer look at the man. Dirt still clung to the man's trousers, the brown mixing in well with the black fabric. That along with the faded royal blue of his gambeson, most likely from repeated hand washing in any available water source, and lack of any adequate armor.
Such an unkempt attire would have any solder of the kingdom weeping in shame. But for an adventurer that look was entirely appropriate for fools who's only saving grace was their ability to kill.
Bennett had the man pegged immediately as some down on his luck adventurer, but one with enough skill to take on a group of monsters and come out on top.
The type of person most likely looking for easy coin.
"Did you find him?" Bennett asked without preamble.
"Um, not exactly." Finn said. He scratched at the start of a scruffy beard on his chin. "I found what was left of him though."
Bennett suppressed a grimace. That was a mixed bag, with that Demi-human gone there was no chance but that one was supposed to be a gift and a key to earning a favor from a powerful noble.
"So, about that coin?" Finn asked.
"Come with me this isn't the kind of conversation that should be held in public." Bennett said, walking away.
Bennett didn't look back but heard Finn as he hurried to catch up. The adventurer walked past the guards and followed him. Bennett then gave his men a curt nod and an obscure gesture to follow as he led the adventurer to his own private housing, a simple bricked house and a thatched roof only large enough to contained a single room.
The room itself wouldn't be out of place in any regular inn, but out here in the wilds it was a veritable palace. A simple bed rested next to a desk covered in papers and maps laid to one side of the room while a simple weapons rack and armor stand sat in the other. The only light came from a small fireplace built into the wall near the middle of the room.
Bennett reached into his coin pouch on the table and withdrew the gold coins, they gleamed slightly in the firelight. Bennett held the coins out to Finn, who as he reached out for them Bennett drew back his hand.
"How did he die?" Bennett asked. The tone was light, but his eyes were searching for any sign of deceit.
"Merrows got to him, ripped him up pretty badly when I got to him." Finn said. He wasn't looking directly at Bennett but at the hand holding the coins.
"He say anything before he died?" Bennett asked.
"Something about a village, wasn't really paying attention to his words. To busy making sure what happened to him didn't happen to me." Finn said. He then tilted his head to the side a curious lilt in his voice. "Where'd you find him anyway."
Bennett paused at the question. Usually, adventurers that asked question are of one quality or another. Useful to have around for tricky situations or another problem to take care of. Bennett had met many of these different types throughout his career and learning how to manage them was what let him rise as high as he did, and he would rise further still. It was just that now he didn't know which category Finn fell into.
"Some miscreant misplaced because of the Wave." Bennett said holding out the coin, this time letting Finn take them.
"You most be out of a lot of gold because of this then, huh?" Finn asked. His eyes own the gold in his palm silently counting it out.
"Not particularly, the one was meant as part of a package deal." Bennett said ideally.
"Deal?" Finn said. His gaze snapping from the coin to Bennett's. "What kind of deal."
This was a risk, Bennett knew. Telling this adventurer that. But it was a calculated risk. This deep in the fort if Finn made any trouble or say anything, he didn't like then Bennett and his men would cut him down before he could do anything about it.
On the other hand, if he could get this adventurer on his side that could open up other options for him. Afterall the more power they gathered to them the easier the transition would be.
"I provide the noble in charge of this territory with sufficient entertainment and he agrees to look the other way as I conduct certain business transactions."
"The noble in charge." Finn's brow furrowed. "Who is that one? I always get them confused."
"Idol Rabier, he comes from a long line that has been around since the founding of Melromarc." Bennett said, he placed a hand over his chest. "A dear friend of mine, and not someone you want to make angry."
"Which he will be with the kid gone. Unless you have replacements?" Finn asked, a speculative gleam in his eyes.
"Unfortunately, he was the last of the product I had in stock." Bennett said with a tried sigh
"Really? Then what happen to the rest of them?" Finn asked, a stilted smile on his face. His body shifted as well going into a loose stance as if ready to pounce or run.
The air in the room changed and Bennett found himself tensing mentally preparing himself for combat. His eyes went to his sword placed against his bed. It'd be close but…
"Rest?" Bennett said. The type of Adventurer Finn was starting to become clear to him.
"People like you don't stop at one and as old as you are Keel can't have been your first." Finn said. His tone going cold.
"Keel? I don't know who that is…"
Finn moved clearing the span of the room in an instant, one hand grabbing Bennett by the throat and slamming him against the wall. Bennett gagged as he was held aloft his feet dangling above the ground. He tried to struggle against the hand holding him down, but the grip was as strong as steel.
"Man, I tried to be patient with you and let you tell me what I wanted but you are just the worst." Finn said. "So, tell me where the other people from Keel's village are."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Bennett snarled. His hands wrapped around the Adventurer's hand and tried to pry it loose, but the hand wouldn't budge.
"You seemed to know a lot a second ago." Finn said tightening his grip around Bennett's neck. "Where are they?"
"Gone where?" Finn grip increased to the point of breaking.
Bennett tried to speak but could only gasp frantically for air, so Finn lessened his grip so he could speak. "Out of the kingdom!"
"You still haven't told me where!" Finn snarled. "If you don't tell me something useful, I'll keep squeezing you till you pop like a zit!"
To prove his point the hand around Bennett's throat tighten once again. Before his last breath he was cut off Bennet said. "Beloukas!"
Finn said nothing but eased up off his hold long enough to take a breath.
"Beloukas?" Finn blinked. "What's that?"
"A Slave trader in Castle Town." Bennett gasped, his eyes bulging. "I just provided the product, he set the deals up and someone else handled transportation."
"Keel's village wasn't the first time you did this, just the latest." Finn said. "How many?"
"Don't know of the top of my head. But I kept records just over there." Bennett said looking over to his table.
As Finn turned to follow his gaze, Bennett reached behind his tunic and drew a dagger he had sheathed there. Without giving the other man a chance to react Bennett plunged the dagger into his forearm, breaking the Adventurer's grip and letting him dive for his blade and run the bastard through.
…
Or it would have if the blade didn't shatter as it made contact with something a lot harder than mere flesh. The blow did tear Finn's sleeve revealing the sleek metal underneath.
The sleeve slid down Finn's arm revealing the metal arm in its entity. The sight of it was enough to jog the scattered memories of rumors he had heard about the summoned Heroes. That one of them had an arm made entirely of metal.
"You…" Bennett stammered out, terror flooded his body and sent his mind racing as he processed this fact. "You're the Sword Hero."
Finn turned to Bennett, then looked from the shattered dagger to the scuff mark on his arm. "Yep."
Finn started to squeeze again, and this time Bennett knew from the bottom of his soul that this time Finn wouldn't stop.
"You can't do this." Bennett tried to reason with the Hero.
The unfeeling cold hand tighten, and black rushed into and cloud Bennett's vision. His lungs were burning in his chest, and he knew he was going to die. Yet still he struggled as he slammed fist after fist on the Hero's arm to try and break his grip, it didn't budge. When he tried to kick at the man it felt like hitting stone. Soon though his strength abandoned him, and he hung limply in the Hero's grip.
"Please, I know things." Bennett pleaded.
The last thing he saw before the darkness claimed him was the dispassionate face of the hero.
[He is still alive.] Owl said. Her tone was a monotone, but Finn could here the tinge of curiosity in it.
"Can't kill someone begging for their life, goes against my rules." Finn grunted, not quite believing his own words but keeping to them.
Finn spared the unconscious body of Captain Bennett one more disgusted glance before moving to the man's desk. He poured over the various writings and letters left on the desk, putting most of it into his inventory to review later.
It was easy enough to find the Outpost that Captain Bennett pointed out to him, it was easier still to get inside and get one on one with the Captain. The truly hard part of it all was always going to be just how to make the guy talk.
But it was like his brother always said, the best way to get a scumbag to talk was to get them to think you were on their side. Finn had tried to follow that advice it was that every word out of the man's mouth made Finn want to beat the Captain's head in. So, Finn went with the other method Jake had taught him, grab the crook by their neck and make them spill the beans. The age-old Good cop, Bad cop never failed even when you had to play both sides by yourself.
There were several letters here from Bennett to various others but with no name signed. A map with like the one Finn had but with additional markers on it, a diamond with one half short and stout while the other half was long and thin with a crescent placed on top.
Finn rolled up the map and placed it in his inventory and turned back to the letters, some were in a code that he couldn't decipher so he placed them in the inventory. But one was complaining of a need of a replacement and marked with a waxed seal. Another one was from this Beloukas saying that another deal could be made if one with certain characteristics were included with the batch. Those also went into the inventory, along with the coin pouch Bennett left on the table.
He made his way to the door, opened it and was almost cut down as a solider swung for his head. Finn lifted his arm and used it as a shield deflecting the blow and countering with one of his own. Finn's fist crashed into the top of the soldier's helm cracking it and the man's skull sending him to the ground in a heap.
Taking a quick look around Finn saw that he was surrounded by the soldiers of the outpost and silently cursed to himself. He guessed that his conversation with the Captain was not as quiet as he hoped. The soldiers didn't give him time to think as they rushed him, armed with spears and blades.
Finn ducked back into the housing using the door frame as a chokepoint and negating their number advantage. Finn reached for his blade and drew it, as he did the sword shifted and instead of holding one sword, he held two daggers.
He made quick work of the first few people that tried to come through the door, a few parries and a couple of slashes sent them scurrying away bleeding. The rest were then to wary to try their luck.
Finn slammed the door shut and braced himself against it.
"Any ideas?" Finn asked.
[Run.] Owl suggested.
"Where?" Finn grunted as the guards started to bang and push on the door. He also felt the pinpricks as the stabbed at the door with their weapons.
[Away from here.] Owl continued.
"Ugh." Finn sighed.
He shivered slightly as a feeling washed over him, one that was familiar to him from his years of dealing with insane wizards. He ripped opened the door and dived through it. He felt the heat of the flame as it passed by him and slammed into the building through the door he opened. The concussive force of the fireball threw him forward on his face. His hands shot out hitting the ground and pushing himself back on his feet
Taking a quick glance behind him, Finn's face blanched as the small building was quickly consumed in flames by the spell. Bennett is probably dead now, I guess.
The soldiers surrounded Finn and attacked before he could get his head on straight. Finn was forced to move on instincts alone to avoid getting skewered. They came at him with everything they had, and he returned it readily.
To Finn's surprise though their blows were so slow and sluggish that it was no problem for him to dance around them, while his every strike hit true.
He was winning at first, but Finn knew from experience that sooner or later he would get tired and from there it would only take one lucky blow to see him dead.
[If you can break through their line to the left, you'd have a clear shoot at the front gates.]
Owl's voice startled Finn and he almost got a spear in the stomach for it, but he twisted to the side and only received a scape along his waist. Finn trusted her and followed Owl's advice, he feinted going right catching the soldiers attention before he took off running to the left.
The speed of his sudden movement took the soldiers of guard, and he was heading towards the gates before they knew what he was doing. With his enhanced body Finn quickly outpaced the guards and left them behind.
"Close the Gates!" Someone shouted behind Finn.
The gates in question were two thick heavy metal doors large enough for a carriage to drive through and took as Finn saw an incredible amount of effort to open and close when he first walked up. If they were closed before Finn could pass them, he would find himself surrounded again.
Such were the thoughts going to Finn's head as he passed through the gates before the soldiers standing guard could react.
"String Shot!"
Spinning as he passed through the gates Finn slashed at the air with his sword, back in its candy form. A thin arc of gum pouring out from his swing, connected to the two gates. The line quivered for a moment then with a welching sound contracted slamming the gates together and gluing them shut.
Finn didn't pause to congratulate himself instead taking the information he had learned and running off into the forest as night fell.
