Chapter 4: In Occupation's Shadow

Two days later, after Mark had taken on the horde of bandits the group had continued on its journey. Unbeknownst to them the Ganleon Bandits followed them seeking revenge for their fallen brothers

Wil and Sain lead the group to an abandoned fortress for tonight's bed.

"I thought we could have found a better place but Wil insisted we stay here" said Sain.

"It still has its stables intake and there's also a watch tower, and it's free. What could be better?" said Wil.

"He's got a point there" said Mark, as he walked into the fortress.

"It matters not, I prefer a place where I can feel the wind blow" said Lyn, walking into the fortress.

"Who will be doing guard duty?" asked Sain.

"Me and you will rotate guard duty tonight, Sain" said Kent.

"Ah, come on" said Sain.

"Don't worry Sain, I'll be up as well doing a perimeter watch" said Mark.

"Ok" said Sain.

As they walk inside Mark stops, "We aren't alone"

"You pardon, milady…" Lyn grabs her sword "Who's there?" A woman walks into view "I… Forgive my intrusion… My name's Natalie. I'm from a village not far from here…" She stumbles slightly Lyn walks to her side and steadies her. "Are you all right?" She looks at her leg "Your leg…" She smiles although weakly at Lyn. "It's fine. Don't worry. It's from a childhood sickness… I can't travel far on it, but it doesn't trouble me much."

Lyn looks her up and down "What are you doing here all by yourself?" Natalie looks down "I'm looking for my husband… I heard he was in this area. He said he was going to raise money to have my leg mended." Mark frowned and looked at Lyn but quickly turned away. She hands Lyn a picture "Here's a sketch of him it's a poor likeness but… his name is Dorcas." Mark chokes on his apple at the mention of the name and Sain could've sworn he heard him say Dorcas… get out that's a hilarious name but paid him no mind. "Do you know of him?" Lyn shakes her head Natalie looks down "I see… If you do meet him, please give him a message. Tell him that Natalie is looking for him." Lyn nods "I will tell him I promise."

"I must be going now" said Natalie. "No, you won't make it far with that leg and it is almost nightfall, bandits will be on the prowl" said Mark, "Stay with us and in the morning we'll escort you back to your village"

"That is very kind of you and I will take up your offer" said Natalie.

Mark shuttered and yelled, "Lyn, drop down now!"

Lyn quickly fell to the floor and an arrow embedded itself in the wall where Lyn's head had just been.

"Dam them!" shouted Mark, "We're surrounded"

"Lyn, Florina, Wil, take Natalie and head deeper into the fortress and hide. Kent, Sain, stay behind them and protect them from bandits" said Mark.

"No, I'm not leaving you again!" said Lyn.

"Lyn, I will not have your blood on my hand because you wouldn't listen to me" said Mark.

"It is my decision and you will not stop me or I will fight you. I am no little girl. I will protect my friends with you!" said Lyn.

"Very well then, you will do exactly as I say when I say is that understood Lyn?" said Mark.

"Yes" said Lyn. "Ok then, everyone go and hide, me and Lyn will hold off the bandits" said Mark. They nodded and ran off.

"Why are you so persistent on me not fighting with you against these bandits?" asked Lyn.

"I will tell you but you cannot tell anyone, ok?" said Mark.

"Sure" said Lyn.

"They are with the Black Fang, which wants me, they also want me dead for all the bandits I killed a couple days ago" said Mark.

"The Black Fang?" asked Lyn.

"I will tell you later prepare for battle" said Mark.

They stepped out the fortress wall to see a volley of arrows flying at them.

"Stand behind me!"Shouted Mark as his eyes changed and his powers came to him.

He slammed his fist into the ground and a wall of Ice rose up in front of them.

"What the" said Lyn, before she looked at Mark and saw his blood red eyes.

"Focus Lyn, when I break the wall race to the West and take out the few bandits there that are trying to get in the fortress. Kill them" said Mark.

Lyn shuddered as she looked at Mark, before he broke the wall and she ran to the west.

She stabbed an archer in the throat and slashed an axe man across the chest. She spun around sensing danger only to be kicked in the stomach by a giant Axe man.

"I amCarjiga, I will kill you" shouted the axe man, before he brought his axe down.

Lyn rolled out of the way and got up and charged Carjiga with the Mani Katti. Carjiga blocked it and knocked her back and kicked the Mani Katti away.

"Oh, a pretty girl. You'll be worth a couple of gold coins" said Carjiga, "But, I think I'll keep you for myself"

Lyn quickly got up and started to run away from Carjiga but he quickly grabbed her and threw her to the ground and got on top of her. Lyn looked up at Carjiga in fear. He grabbed her throat and said, "You will obey me!"

He lifted her up and she did everything she could she smacked his face, kicked him, but nothing phased him. She grabbed hold of one of his fingers and brought it to her mouth and she bit down hard.

"AAAAAGGGGGHHHH! YOU STUPID WHENCH!" shouted Carjiga, before he punched her in the stomach and threw her to the ground and stepped on her stomach.

"AAAAHHHH!" screamed Lyn as Carjiga slowly pushed down harder on her chest.

"HAHAHAHA" laughed Carjiga.

Suddenly there was a loud roar and Carjiga stopped pushing his foot down and turned to the roar to see Mark, covered in blood and blood dripping off the tip of his sword. His face was twisted in anger and rage. He was breathing heavily out of anger, and his eyes… his eyes…. Even though they were blood red, Lyn did not see a mass killer in those eyes but a savior. Not because he was saving her but that was all she saw in him.

Mark roared and charged Carjiga. Carjiga shock his head and started to back away.

"It's not possible! You the Dragling should be dead!" shouted Carjiga.

"Well I'm not and you got me especially ANGRY FOR HURTING SOMEONE PRECIOUS TO ME!" screamed Mark, before he grabbed Carjiga by the throat and threw him to the ground and started pressing his foot into Carjiga's chest.

"Do you like IT!" shouted Mark.

Lyn slowly tried to get up to stop Mark.

"Mark! Please stop!" cried Lyn.

Mark turned and his face softened and he got off of Carjiga and walked over to Lyn.

Carjiga jumped up and knocked Mark down and knocked away Muramasa and prepared to kill Mark with his axe.

Mark growled, then shouted "Dragon Fire!" as jets of flames shot out of Marks mouth and burned Carjiga to ashes.

Mark got up and helped Lyn up. She looked into his eyes and saw his normal blue eyes.

"What was that I saw?" asked Lyn.

"That is my curse, my father was a dragon, that survived the Scouring, and feel in love with my mother. He died twenty years ago from a disease. I inherited all of his dragon powers and learned that my mother was a draggling, a half-dragon, half-human hybrid, and also inherited her power as well. My brother had a different father, I never meet him but I bet he was a dragon as well" said Mark.

"Why do you call this a curse, you have gained a power no one else can obtain?" said Lyn.

"My mother died three years after I was born; I lost my brother ten years later. I lost my family. Then, a group starts hunting me because of my powers. And tonight I almost lost you, Lyn" said Mark.

Lyn put her right hand on Mark's cheek and caressed it. "Mark, I think you are the best man in the world, I care for you so much, we've been together a short time but, I feel like I can say this without a doubt, that I love you Mark" said Lyn.

"Lyn…." said Mark.

"Mark just say you love me and make me the happiest woman in the world…. I don't think after all I've learned from you that I can forgive you if you go and get yourself killed" said Lyn.

"Lyn…."

Lyn dropped her hand and started to turn around. Mark grabbed her shoulder and pulled her to him and kissed her with a passion that she gladly returned.

They broke apart and Mark rested his forehead on Lyn's and said, "Lyn, I love you more than anything in the world, even though we've known each other for a few short weeks. I couldn't live with myself if you died fighting my battle"

"Let us fight them together then" whispered Lyn.

Mark smiled and nodded and kissed her again. He then felt a surge of energy run through his body. They broke apart as Mark started looking at his body from feeling the power.

Lyn smiled and they walked into the fortress and called out their friends. They rushed out only for a hand axe to fly by right in front of turned to the man who threw it.

"There you are I guess Carjiga was right" said the man.

"That voice, Dorcas is that you" said Natalie as she tried to get by Kent and Sain.

"Natalie!" said the fighter.

"Oh Dorcas" said Natalie as she raced to him and hugged him.

Dorcas looked at them all, "I'm sorry for what I did. I did it to obtain money to have my wife's leg mended"

Mark walked over and put his hand on Dorcas' shoulder. "We know why you did it, but that is over the bandits are dead and now you and your wife can go home together now"

"I'll take her home and be back here by dawn" said Dorcas.

"Why?" asked Mark.

"You protected my wife and I want to repay you anyway I can" said Dorcas.

"You don't need to-"started Mark.

"Your going to Lycia. I need to go somewhere to get money" allow me to come with you, I want to repay you for the kindness you showed my wife" said Dorcas.

"Mark, Lyn, when my husband sets his sights on something he will do it no matter what" said Natalie, "I agree with my husband, please let him go with you and take care of him please"

"We will" said Mark as he shook Dorcas' hand and waved goodbye to them as Dorcas took Natalie home.

Well that took longer than expected