Been looking up a lot of Norse Mythology stuff lately. It has been giving me a lot of inspiration

Chapter 4 – The Princess, The Elf, The Demon and The Wanderer Part 4

There was screaming, yelling, and the sounds of swords clanging together. Koga opens the door slightly. He was breathing heavily as he watched people began to board the boat he was on. Koga saw right in front of him someone get slashed in the chest, blood splattering on the wooden surface. The person that slashed the individual laid his wild demon-like eyes on Koga and walked towards him raising his sword in the air. Koga snapped his eyes open and the first thing he saw back, in reality, was the one of the order of the sword goons ready to stab Koga in the chest. Koga catches the blade between his hands and snaps the blade into pieces, then kicks the goon off of the bed and sends him crashing into the wooden wardrobe. The other goon rushed over to slash Koga, but Koga rolls across the bed and out of the way, dodging just in time. The goon runs across the bed chasing Koga. He swings his sword trying to cut him but Koga was too quick as dodged each incoming swing. The goon thrust forward and Koga moves out of the way, causing the goon to stab his sword into the wall.

"Yeah, that was pretty stupid," said Koga, punching the goon in the face and knocking him back. Koga yanks the sword out of the wall, swings, and slices the goon's head off. Blood spurting out of the decapitated body.

"NO, YOU KILLED MIKE!" The other Goon cried. Koga would then chuck the sword at the Goon and it pierced into his heart. The goon let out a curdling groan and falls back.

"Goddamn Order of the sword," said Koga staring at them. His eyes then widened "OH NO! BEAN!" Koga rushed out of the room and heads into the trio's room. The room was of course empty. This made Koga worried for a moment, but he then noticed that there wasn't any sign of a struggle. Then it dawned on him. He heads back into his room and he noticed that Beans sword that he took from her was gone along with other items as well. "You gotta be kidding me…" He groaned rubbing his head.

Barabara came walking down the hallway after hearing all of the noise while gripping a small Ax in hand. Once Barbara arrived outside of Koga's room she gasped. "Oh my goodness!" Koga turned around "Hey Barbara, sorry for the mess." He said, rubbing through his long black hair.

"Koga dear are you ok?" Barbara asked, setting down the ax and checking on him.

"Yeah yeah I'm fine," said Koga, as Barbara was checking his face or any bruises.

Once she saw that Koga was ok, she looks down at the bodies. "Who on earth are these people?" She asked as she lifts her foot to see she was stepping in a pool of blood

Koga would go on to explain the events that transpired before arriving in Southwold. He made sure not to mention the job he was hired to do involving bringing Bean back to dreamland.

Barbara just shakes her head "I knew you'd run into some sort of trouble like this Koga," She said in an I told you so sort of tone.

"Hey who wouldn't want to piss off a bunch of corrupt jackasses while having the skills to back it up." Said Koga, as he began to get dressed in his traveling attire.

Barbara sighed "Well I'll go ahead and clean this mess up. Seriously Koga did you have to goand lop off the blokes head? Look at all of this blood!" She asked as she picks up the body and throws it over her shoulder.

"It was a force of habit," said Koga grabbing shortsword and greatsword. "I'll be back Barbara,"

"Please be safe Koga,"

"Always am,"

And with that, Koga had left the bar and inn and stepped outside. He noticed that the horse was gone.

"DAMN IT! I WAS HOPING THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE HORSE!"

…

The trio rode on the horse down the dirt trail. As of right now, Bean had no idea where she, Elfo, and Luci would go. All that mattered is that she had more reliable transportation than just walking for miles and miles. They had food, a weapon just in case they were to run into trouble. Bean however was going to miss Southwold. That first impressions were nice for her. But for now, she had to keep moving.

"It sucks we had to leave Koga and that nice town behind," said Elfo, already missing Southwold.

"I know but we had to," said Bean "But We would've been taken right back to dreamland the next morning!"

"So any idea of where we're going now?" Elfo asked

"No idea!" said Bean, honestly.

"Running far off without a plan huh? That sounds like it'll go well," Luci said, sitting on the back of the horse, smoking a cigarette.

Bean knew Luci was right but she didn't care. All that mattered to her was her freedom. Her freedom to do what she wanted without being tied down by some prince she didn't love. Bean was not going to let that happen. She was determined to keep running as long as she could. As those thoughts were going through her head. Bean heard the horse she was riding let out a sharp cry and it tips over, sending the three of them sliding across the ground. Bean groans as she gets to her feet and turns around. An arrow was logged into the horse's thigh. She looks up from the horse to see Noland and two of his goons trotting on their horses over to Bean, Elfo, and Luci.

"We meet again Princess Tiabeanie," said Noland as he gets off of his horse. "Hopefully for the last time…"

Bean just glared as she drew her sword, pointing it at Noland. "Whoa whoa hold it, little princess. We're not here to fight you. I see that you left that fool, Koga, behind. Which was a good move," he smiled "The only reason we're following you is that we're not sure if he gave you the Dragon Key or not,"

"Well, we don't have that stupid key!" Bean shouted at Noland. "And if we did have it I'd just give it to you! I don't care about what secrets it has or whatever power it hides! I just want to be left alone!"

Noland chuckled "Good," He nods approvingly "So you don't mind if we search your bag just in case?"

Bean scoffs "Whatever…" She walks over to where her bag was and picks it up. She turns around and tosses the bag to Noland and he catches it. Noland opens the bag and his eyes widened. "You don't care eh?" said Noland, as he digs into the bag and pulls out the red and black scaled Dragon key.

Bean and Elfo gasped "W-What the heck! Why was that?" She blurted out confused.

"Oooh…I must've grabbed it when I was taking Koga's stuff…my bad" said Luci, he looks over at Bean and Elfo as the two were glaring at him. "What? I said my bad!"

"Yeah whatever, can we go now?" Bean asked irritably.

Noland began rubbing his chin while staring at Bean, thinking. "Princess…aren't you to be married?"

Beans heart stopped and she gulps "What're you talking about?" She asked, trying to play dumb. But the sudden shock and hesitation in her deliverance gave it away.

"That's right. You were meant to be married to the prince of bentwood. And from what I've heard you ran off. Koga was sent after you to be taken back to Dreamland."

Bean held her sword tightly and she raised back up. Noland smirked "I'm sure we'll be rewarded greatly once we take you back home. On top of that…we might even be a part of Dreamlands army with our skill."

Just when Bean thought she was free…someone was trying to take her back to Dreamland…AGAIN

"Now come along nicely princess," said Noland with a big grin on his face.

"NO!" Bean screamed from the top of her lungs as she charged forward and swung her sword at Noland. Noland drops the Dragon key and blocked her attack with ease and Bean continues to relentlessly attack Noland. The two other goons stepped in to try and restraint Bean but Elfo and Luci stepped in. Elfo takes out his small pocket knife and stabs at the goons legs causing him to scream in pain. Luci wrapped his tail around the other goons legs causing him to trip and hit his head against a tree knocking him out cold. Bean and Noland continued their fight. Bean was putting a lot of pressure on Noland. Noland had underestimated Beans ferocious battle style. Bean gave one good swing to Noland, Noland blocked but the force knocked him back and caused him to fall over. Bean rushed over to finish him off with a strike to the chest but Noland takes out a dagger from his waist and tosses it at Bean, going straight into her shoulder.

Bean gasps and she places her hand around her shoulder where the knife was sticking out and she trips and falls over. Elfo gasped and he rushed over to Bean's aid but was given a rough kick to the face knocking him back. Luci jumped in but was grabbed by his head and was slammed into a tree twice before being chucked aside.

"ELFO! LUCI!" Bean called out in shock. She then glares up at Noland "YOU BASTARD! SCREW YOU!"

"This never would've happened if you'd come quietly!" Noland said, glaring down at Bean "Now get the hell up and- " Noland stopped talking as he looked up from bean and stared forward. One of his goons was struck in the chest and he fell to the ground. Bean turned her head, and there she saw Koga, slowly walking forward with a sword in hand. "Of course…" Noland said tiredly.

Koga looked over at Bean seeing the stab wound in her shoulder. Koga saw Elfo and Luci, both laid out on the ground. Koga sighed and rubs his head "Jeez Bean you really are a damsel in distress huh?" He asked, placing his eyes back on Bean. Bean just glared and placed her hand around the handle of the knife. "Don't pull it out, it'll just make the bleeding worse," Koga told her quickly.

"Koga," said Noland "You can have this princess so you can claim your reward. Just don't get in my way when I take that key back headquarters."

Koga looks on the ground seeing the Dragon key. He reaches down and picks it up. Koga smirked "Nah, I think I'll keep it," He said, grinning confidently at Noland.

A vein appeared on Noland's head "And just what in the hell will you do with that power? You don't even want it!" He said frustratingly as he points at Koga.

"Nope I don't," Koga replied nonchalantly "But I'm just not going to hand it over to you so casually. You have to earn it. I am the one who found it after all."

"No it wasn't you liar it was me!" Luci called out.

"Well I was the one that picked it up…so it was me," Bean chimed in.

"Guys my face hurts…" said Elfo, rubbing it softly and flinching every time he touches it.

"ENOUGH!" Noland bellowed. His voice echoing in the forest around them. He points his sword at Koga. "You get what you asked for. I've been wanting to do this since the day you joined the order."

Koga pockets the key and holds his sword out to Noland. The two of them kept eye contact as they slowly walked forward with their swords. Sweat was running down Noland's head as everything was in slow motion from his point of view. Unlike Bean, Noland was extremely cautious of Koga. He hated Koga but he knew Koga was skilled, he knew how ferocious he could be. Koga's green eyes were piercing through Noland as Koga got closer. Noland rushed forward and swung his sword at Koga. Before Noland knew it his sword knocked right out of his hand and it flew into the air. Koga had parried Noland's slash in seconds. Koga lunged forward and Noland's eyes widened. Suddenly, Noland was in the air and he was spinning. He lands on the ground with a thud…but Noland saw his body above him. But his body had no head. Noland's vision quickly went black as his body lifelessly slumped to the ground. "Goodbye Noland," said Koga, as he slings the blood off from his sword and uses his sleeve to wipe the rest away. Koga places his eyes on Bean "You're welcome." He said with a smile.

Bean just scoffs and turns her gaze away from Koga.

"I'll take that as a thank you," Koga replied as he sheathes his sword and he goes over to Bean and kneels. "Damn he got you good,"

"Can I pull this out now?" Bean asked, wincing as she tried moving her arm.

"Um no? unless you want to die from blood loss," said Koga, as he bonks Bean on the head

"OW WHAT THE HECK?!" shouted Bean, glaring at Koga.

"THAT WAS FOR STEALING MY STUFF!" Koga shouted back.

"THAT WAS LUCI!" Bean pointed at Luci.

"Aww Snitch!" Luci groaned.

Koga stood up and kicked Luci in the face sending him into a green bush. Once all that was done, Bean was placed on the horse that belonged to one of the goons, she winces a bit "Hey Easy!" she yelled at Koga

"Oh Sorry I'll be more gentle next time oh beautiful fragile princess," Koga mocked with a grin.

"Oh, you're just asking to be punched in the face," Bean growled.

Koga chuckled playfully as he went to go pick up Elfo "Damn they got you good," He said as he stared at the sore on the right side of the Elf's face. It was a dark shade of red mixed with blue.

"Is it that bad?" Elfo asked curiously.

"Oh no you look cute as ever!" said Koga, lying of course but he wouldn't tell Elfo how he looked.

With Bean, Luci, and Elfo all ready to go. The group would return to Southwold.

…

Once the group had arrived back in Southwold and returned to the Inn. Barbara, who was still awake and worrying sick about Koga, was thrilled to know that he had returned. She gasp saw Bean with a dagger in her shoulder.

"Oh my goodness deary!" Barbara rushes over and gently takes Bean's none injured shoulder "Come, we'll have that taken care of right away!"

Everyone found themselves in Bean, Elfo, and Luci's room. They were watching as Barbara tended to Beans shoulder wound. Koga laid out across a bed watching Bean with a grin on his face. Bean noticed this and she frowned at him. "What are you grinning at?" she said annoyed. Koga stretches as she replies "Just enjoying your karma is all," Bean let out a yelp as Barbara applied the healing ointment on her wound. Bean began squirming in pain as she felt the sting. "OW OW OW!" She cried.

Koga then started laughing, followed by Luci who joined in. "Yeah it is pretty fun is it?" Luci smirked.

"Oh stop it you two that's enough! It's not nice to make fun of an injured lady!" Barabra shoots a glare at the two. With that done Barbara had finished tending to Beans wounds. "I wouldn't move that arm too much dear. That wound was pretty deep; any movement would reopen it."

"Thanks, Barbara," said Bean sincerely, smiling at her.

"And you Elfy, just keep that bandage on and let the swelling go down," Barbara said to Elfo.

"Thank you!" said Elfo, his mouth muffled by the swollen mark on his face.

"No problem at all sweethearts. Now try and get some rest." Barbara said as she pats Bean on the head softly. As she walks by Koga he smacks him on the head. "OW! What was that for?!" He said taken aback. Barbara lets out a laugh "Not so funny now is it?" She said, glaring down at Koga as she then walks out of the room.

Luci began laughing harder than ever. Koga punches Luci in the face sending him flying into the wall. Luci slowly slid down the wall and landed face-first on the floor. "Ow…" He said softly. With that, Koga lays back and props his feet on a pillow as he relaxed in the window seat of the room.

Bean looks over at Koga "Hey, why didn't you hand over that key to Noland?"

"Why didn't I hand it over?" Koga repeated with his green hood covering his eyes. "That's a good question Bean…"

"Well?" said Bean "Why?"

Koga removed the hood from his eyes and he stared out the window. The moonlight reflecting on Koga's face, as it lit up his bright green eyes. "Maybe nobody should ever need to bother creatures that don't want to be bothered with. Or, humanity doesn't need any more power-hungry fools to plague the world. Maybe, just maybe, Dragons don't want their home to be ruined or watch their loved ones killed just so they could be trophies on some fool's wall…"

Bean looked at Koga surprised "Wow…I didn't take you for a guy who cared about majestic creatures…"

"Yeah you look like the type of guy who would punch a deer for just looking at you wrong," said Luci

Koga scoffs "Well…the more you know…" He placed the hood back over his face and crosses his arms.

Elfo also had a question "Hey…Koga?"

"Hm?" Koga groaned

"Is it true you were born on a mountain?"

Koga lifts his hood one more and looks over at the swollen-faced Elf. Elfo gulps "I uhh, Barbara told us that some swordsmen went to go kill a troll and they found you on the mountain and stuff! I just wanted to get to know you more is all!"

Koga let out a small laugh. "Well…I guess. I don't have a good memory of my childhood. Any memories I do have I don't know if they're real or not. The only memories I have are with the leader of local swordsmen who reside here, Barbara and…" Koga paused for a moment.

The three of them looked at Koga, waiting for him to finish what he was saying. But sadly, Koga placed the hood back over his head and he crossed his arms once more.

"Koga?" Elfo said to him. But Koga didn't reply. It seemed as though that's all the trio would get out of Koga for tonight. The three of them would then head off to bed.

Bean wondered what would happen to her now. With her arm currently injured, she wouldn't be able to protect herself. Bean sighed as she placed her none wounded arm across her face, covering her eyes. What was she going to do now? Would she have to give in and just accept that she was going back home? It seems as though that would be the case.

Bean struggled to fall asleep that night…

…

Back at the forest where Noland had cut off Bean. One of the goons that Luci knocked out regained consciousness. He let out a small groan as he held his head. He stumbles a bit as he gets to his feet, and then looks around the area. The first thing he saw laying on the ground was Noland's decapitated head. "Captain Noland!" He gasped. "Lords above! this is terrible! I-I have to go back to base! Captain Noland your death will not be in vain!" The goon would then head off, running as fast as he could to head back to the Order of the swords stronghold.