CHAPTER X

CRASH. A striking dummy splintered into pieces as a fearsome Roegadyn smashed it with a brutal swing of his axe.

"That's the fifth one this week Bhaldryss." An exasperated instructor complained. "Can't ya tone it down, just a notch?"

"Nay, he's just a savage from the Northern Seas, he doesn't know any better.. He's no better than an animal!" A senior marauder commented.

Bhaldryss turned to the taunter, and fixed him with a cold stare, before practicing the breathing exercises an Arcanist had insisted would help him with his anger issues. "One…Two…Three…Four…" He felt…stupid.

"That's enough Thrande. I did not ask for yer say in the matter." The instructor growled. "Clean it up Bhaldryss, we're done for the day."

Bhaldryss began to sweep up the pieces of the striking dummy as his guild companions slowly filed out into the City. Soon, the only people remaining in the Coral Tower were the receptionist, the instructor, and the senior marauder, a Hyur by the name of Thrande Tucker.

"I didn't like that look, recruit, ya' got a problem wit; me, then how about you speak up?" The Hyur taunted, approaching Bhaldryss as he cleaned.

Bhaldryss looked down at the Hyur and growled. "Come off it Mate, I don't want no trouble…"

"Aye, you bet your arse you don't. I aint impressed just cause you smashed a few dummies. That's all you savages are good for, breakin' things! Leave the real fightin' to men like me."

An all too familiar red hue began to creep across the Roegadyn's eyes as he seemed to stare through the Hyur standing in front of him. His fist clenched around the broom handle, causing an audible groan of protest from the poor cleaning tool.

"Enough!" A powerful voice boomed through the Guild hall, just as Bhaldryss began to raise the broom to strike. Surprised, the red hue disappeared as he turned towards the voice. Standing in the doorway was Axemaster Wyrnzoen, glaring at the two heated Marauders.

"If you two fools are so bored that ye've began to squabble amongst yerselves, then I've got an assignment for you and yer' team. Gather yer' third mate, and a Conjurer from the guild, and be here in no longer than half a bell!"

Just under half a bell later, Bhaldryss, Thrande, another Hyur marauder, and a Lalafell conjurer stood before the Axemaster, the third marauder not at all happy to have his free time interrupted.

"You can thank yer mates for the assignment later, Graham." The Axemaster told the angry Hyur, before addressing the team. "You four are to report to Red Rooster Stead. There you will find a young boy named Sighard. For a while now, the guild has been tracking down the beast that slayed his parents, a terrible Auroch by the name of Kujata... Inform the boy that the Auroch has been spotted in Lower La Noscea... and that his vengeance shall not be much longer in waiting."

"It looks like the beast was here not too long ago…" Thrande said, standing up from inspecting the remains of a broken lavender pot, likely from a Farmer's wain that had reportedly been attacked by the Auroch's pack.

As he brushed off his hands, and turned towards the group, an angry caw sounded from behind him as an aggravated Buzzard erupted from the nearby brush and made a vicious dive at the back of his head.

Bhaldryss shoved the Hyur down, drawing his axe from a holster on his back all in one motion. He circled away from the Buzzard, ready for it to make a move.

KATHUNK. Graham heaved his axe through the air, catching the bird in the chest, and sending it crashing to the ground with a sickening sound.

Bhaldryss turned to help Thrande up, but found the Hyur already picking himself off the ground, anger written plainly on his face.

"What the bloody hell was that, savage?! I ought' split yer' skull and leave ya' to the jackals for that." He sputtered, brushing himself off indignantly.

Bhaldryss gritted his teeth, staring blankly at the man. By now he wasn't even slightly surprised by the Hyur's ungrateful response.

"Come off it Thrande, he saved your sorry arse. Ya ought' thank the man, rather'n make empty threats…" Graham intervened, stooping to retrieve his Axe from the corpse of the Buzzard.

Thrande grew quiet, stewing in anger, before finally muttering. "C'mon, we aint got all day.", and storming off.

The group followed a clear path of destruction, debris similar to the broken pot, until finally they saw the wain up ahead, overturned on the path leading to Western La Noscea.

The sun sank slowly in the sky as they approached the cart cautiously, keeping an eye out for the massive Auroch.

"Blast… we've got our bloody cart, but no Auroch or beast in sight…" Thrande cursed, tossing a broken bottle down the path. The bottle crashed to the ground with a loud shattering smash.

"Oi' there ain' a need fer' all that, mate." Bhaldryss growled, growing tired of the Hyur's child-like anger.

"You shut yer' bloody mouth, Sav-" RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE. The words died in his throat as the earth itself seemed to shake. A mountainous Auroch loomed out of the growing shadows, plodding slowly, menacingly towards the crew.

"Well that's more like it! Look alive boys!" Thrande yelled.

The three Marauder's unslung their axes, and took up positions on the road, with the cart at their back. The Conjurer took up a position slightly behind them, ready to support if need be.

The Auroch let out a terrible roar, and began to charge at the group, murderous intent gleaming in its dark eyes.

Bhaldryss charged first, shouting "Let's get 'em boys!" a time honored battle cry of the Tanima Sea Wolves. Thrande followed closely after, not to be showed up by the Roegadyn "savage".

Bhaldryss caught the Auroch's charging horns on his axe, sliding back, and only managing to keep his feet through sheer indomitable will. A pack of hyenas came yipping and snarling out of the darkness behind the Auroch, opting to dash for the soft looking Lalafell instead of the heavily armored, and shouting Marauders.

Graham doubled back and charged into the pack of hyenas, bellowing angrily and stealing their attention away from the Lalafell. The air was alive with yips, snarls, bellows, thunderous footsteps, the sounds of steel, and battle cries.

Thrande flanked to the Aurochs left, swinging his axe in a heavy circle, before slamming it into its left foreleg. Seeing the beast stagger, Bhaldryss heaved the beasts head to the left with all his might, sending it stumbling, unable to support itself on its weakened leg.

The Lalafell had his hands busy casting protective and curative spells on Graham as he was swarmed by more and more hyenas. The Hyur's axe rose and fell like a murderous machine, cleaving in chests, splitting skulls, and maiming limbs. "Ya need me to put that thing down fer ya, over there?!" he yelled to the others, "I'm gettin' bored over here!"

Bhaldryss laughed, growing light headed with blood lust as he cut and hacked at the shaggy Auroch's face and chest. Thrande continued to hack at the beast's forelegs, slowing its movement to a painful leg dragging crawl.

With a terrible roar, the Auroch suddenly reared into the air on its hind legs. The earth itself shattered as it slammed back to the ground, causing a terrible quake.

Caught off guard, Thrande fell to a knee, disoriented. The Auroch bellowed victoriously as it bore down on the fallen Hyur, aiming to gore him with its massive horns.

Seeing his companion in danger, the blood lust finally overtook Bhaldryss. The all too familiar red haze stretched across his eyes, and he let out a war cry so fierce that the Auroch stopped in its tracks, turning towards the Roegadyn. For the first, and last, time, Kujata felt fear. Where before had stood a man, there was now only a beast.

The Roegadyn charged the Auroch, tackling it and gripping its horns with savage strength. They struggled for only a moment before the Auroch was thrown bodily to the ground. Kujata bellowed in vain, trying to scramble to its feet. The Roegadyn approached, savage eyes peering mercilessly at his fallen foe as he raised his axe over the beasts exposed throat. The axe descended, and the Auroch fell still, the road painted red with its lifeblood.

Terrified of the horrible war cry, and seeing Kujata fall, the Hyenas all turned and fled back into the shadows. Confused, Graham stood on guard, ready for some sort of trick, before awkwardly yelling after them. "And… uh, don't come back!..?"

The world slowly came back into focus for Bhaldryss, just in time for him to catch a blow thrown at him by a furious Thrande.

The Hyur squared off with him, brandishing his axe angrily in front of him "What was that all about, Savage?! First ya' go charging in without waitin' fer the LEADER to give the command. Then ya' all but turn into an animal yerself during the fight! You really are nothin' more than a bloody savage!"

Already having been set off, Bhaldryss felt his fuse growing short once more, a slight red hue once again creeping over his eyes.

"I'm not in the mood Thrande, I ain' meant to step on yer' toes, I was caught up in the moment." He warned.

"Piss on yer' mood, I'll show ya caught up in the moment!" The belligerent Hyur screamed, swinging his axe in a murderous arc at the Roegadyn's face. Bhaldryss dropped his weapon, catching the axe with one hand, and tossing it far into the night. The Hyur let out a terrified scream as red, savage eyes descended on him.