After you went in search of Kiyui, we endeavoured to keep that rather large lizard at bay. Tilda attempted to put the fire out. Asmodeus was drawing its attention, while Chloe and Agaroth tried to get any hits in that they could. I couldn’t risk trying another fireball, not without potentially causing more damage to the village.

  We heard you two talking briefly then a rather odd voice say “Gevaudan” before you went silent. Agaroth was the first to realise that connected voice had worn off. He shouted something idiotic and vulgar. Asmodeus responded in that pompous manner that he does, saying that we needed to ‘dispatch the foul creature quickly’ so that we may ‘flock to your aid.’

  The lizard did not take too kindly to this statement. It started screaming about how we dared to take the lord of lizards so lightly. It proceeded to get even more aggressive. Slamming its club down on Asmodeus repeatedly. Even with his reinforced shield he was taking a beating. Despite Chloe and Agaroth getting the occasional blow in, the thing was relentless.

  Tilda had managed to put out the fire using water from the well at the corner of the square. I had an idea, but due to connected voice being down I could not inform the others. I couldn’t shout it or the lizard would know what we were doing.

  So, I waved Tilda over and bid her to flood the floor of the market. Which she did expediently. She is a nimble little thing. I began charging my strongest lightning spell. Chloe & Agaroth were able to see what I was doing. They both jumped up onto the stalls before I unleashed my spell at the water.

  Both Asmodeus and the lizard took a big hit and were badly stunned. Chloe took the chance and jumped off the stall she was standing on, slamming her sword into the lizard’s neck. Its neck was substantial however, so it did not go all the way through. The lizard collapsed, its head half hanging off… blood pumping everywhere. It was glorious.

  The remaining lizardmen were panicked by the death of their leader and began to flee. Tilda shouted that she would help Asmodeus and that we should look for you. Agaroth shouted back something about finding you in the afterlife and killing you again if we found you dead. Even when he is being caring, he does so in such an aggressive manner, there is something very wrong with that man.

  Once we were able to move the market stall that blocked the street, it didn’t take us long to find you. There was a great number of dead lizard men around you. Blood was everywhere… both yours and theirs. Kiyui’s right arm was badly wounded. Feiffer was licking it… vile creature.

  I knew it was bad as soon as I saw your blood. I knew they’d want to undress you and treat your wounds. I had no time to intervene; Chloe had already picked you up and was carrying you back to the village inn while Agaroth brought Kiyui.

  We arrived at the inn and Agaroth kicked down the door to the nearest room. Chloe placed you on the bed. Kiyui was beginning to wake up, so Agaroth placed him in an armchair and began to bandage his arm. He would have cast a healing spell on him, but he was worried that he would need all his mana to heal you.

  Chloe unbuckled your armour. I told her that we could cast healing over your armour and that we didn’t need to undress you. Chloe disagreed… and I do not blame her… she was worried about you… she shouted something along the lines of “Bugger his shitty skin” and said that we needed to know who was more injured so that we could heal them first. Which is a fair statement.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  She pulled the cowl off your head and suddenly jumped back. Agaroth looked over and said in an irritatingly sarcastic tone “Well that’s some fuckin’ skin condition.” Chloe was speechless, she just stood there. Kiyui looked over and enquired about your health. That’s when Tilda and Asmodeus arrived.

  Tilda ran into the room screaming, asking if you were alright. She stopped mid-sentence, just staring at you. Her brain just shut down. Asmodeus demanded to know why there was vermin in the room. Then he noticed your armour. He realised it was you.

  I could see the tears beginning to form in Tilda’s eyes. It was a matter of seconds before they erupted and she fled the room. Chloe regained her composure and ran after her to try to get her to calm down. Asmodeus drew his sword and Feiffer growled at him. I asked him what the hell he was doing. Asmodeus began to walk towards you saying “Goblins are vermin” and that you needed to be extinguished for the sake of humanity. He really is a pompous arse.

  I moved to stop him, but he pushed me down. Alas, my physical strength is not great. Agaroth moved in between you and Asmodeus saying “You can just fuck right off with that shit.”

  Asmodeus was slightly stunned that anyone would defend you, but he persisted “You know what those things do, you know the chaos they cause, the lives the ruin, how can you possibly interfere?” Etcetera. Agaroth responded by asking exactly how much chaos you had caused, how many lives you had ruined, he even called Asmodeus a “sanctimonious cunt,” which was an interesting touch.

  Asmodeus’ mind was not being altered. He took another step forward saying that it must all be part of some devious plan of yours and that we would regret it if we let you live. I moved to stand next to Agaroth, I drew my hammer and questioned how he could turn his back on somebody who had saved our lives on countless occasions. I said that that kind of behaviour made me less likely to trust him, not you.

  Kiyui was fully awake now. He asked what was happening. Agaroth said that we were having a “Wee bit of a disagreement” and that Kiyui was to help me get you out of there. Kiyui didn’t question anything he simply moved towards you and began to try to lift you towards the window. He struggled of course… what with his right arm being so damaged.

  I may find Agaroth to be an obnoxious arse, but on this occasion, I followed his instruction without question and helped Kiyui get you out of the window. Asmodeus attempted to intervene, but Agaroth slammed his flail off the ground saying some vulgar threats. Once we were outside, we stole a hay cart… placed you on it and ran.

  Agaroth burst forth from the window. I know not whether he was thrown or if he jumped… either way it was far from graceful. He caught up to us and kept running. We eventually veered off the road and into a nearby forest. Fortunately, tracking is not a skill that Asmodeus possesses, so we have been able to stay here and recuperate.

  We undressed you properly here and looked at your wounds. I’m afraid Agaroth does not possess high enough healing spells to heal your broken bones swiftly. He used all his mana healing your flesh wounds. Your bones are still broken underneath. So, we reset the bones and I put a paralysis spell on your arms. If you move your arms before the bones have healed it will slow their recovery so I will need to cast paralysis on them every morning for a couple of weeks to hold them in position. Agaroth will also cast a healing spell each morning to help speed up the recovery, otherwise it will take about six weeks.

  We have set up a little camp here. Made a fire and started cooking. You should eat when you feel up to it. Kiyui still seems pretty exhausted from what happened. He fell asleep soon after we made the fire. Agaroth went off to collect some wood to keep the fire going and I stayed here to keep an eye on you two. A few hours passed and here we are.