Back at The Four Claws tavern, Tilda winced and hissed as Torrance applied the Blood’s Bark to her exposed torso. The seemingly magical attack that Arcos had dealt to her and Reeva was unlike anything she had seen. And her injury was seemingly unusual.

  It was as if someone had dragged a boiling piece of glass across her skin, leaving a scarred, bubbling path of pain in its wake. It was an ugly, cauterised wound. It smelled bad. Even the Blood’s Bark - which Torrance swore would be a good remedy for the injury - struggled to stem the sting in the burn. But after a few minutes, the pain finally subsided and left behind a sore tenderness to her belly.

  They were both seated on a bench at the long table in the centre of the mess hall of the tavern.

  After Torrance wrapped a simple bandage around her body, Tilda thanked him as she pulled down her undershirt and then tied up her leather jerkin.

  “Give it a few hours.” Torrance advised. “Then see if the burn scar can get peeled off.”

  “You really believe in this paste?” Tilda asked him.

  He grinned. “Aye, I do. It helped me many times. It won’t remove scarring if the wound’s too deep. But it should remove burns and such. Even this one.”

  “But though this is something you and I have never seen before.”

  “Yeah.”

  Nearby, Boras coughed as he sipped some hot tea with honey and lemon that Maraby gave him. He was seated at one of the mess hall’s tables closest to the fireplace. He was rubbing his throat. Arcos had nearly choked the life from him, so his voice was taking its time to come back. He could speak, but it was hoarse.

  “Bloody fucker…” he growled. “When I… get… my hands… on him…I’ll-” He coughed again, unable to finish his sentence.

  Reeva patted his back as she dropped next to him. “Keep drinking. Your voice will come back. Be glad that’s all he did to you…” She rubbed her bandaged stomach and shoulder. Arcos's sweeping attack had struck her there. “Gods… That sword is something else.”

  “You honestly expect me to believe that it holds some kind of spirit in there?” Torrance asked Tilda skeptically. “I know the Black exists, the Marked are around, and Sarki and manticores fly over my head daily,” he spared an eyebrow-raised glance towards Courageous, who was soundly asleep by the hot fire next to Boras. It was a wonder that he was able to squeeze his large frame through the doors, but he handled the narrow space like his smaller feline relatives. “But talking swords is a tad far.”

  “I understand it is a lot to take in,” Tidal agreed. “But it is what Brother Archibald said to me. It is what he had researched. That man’s knowledge has never been false. I will not doubt it.”

  Since their clash with Arcos and now in the tavern, Tilda had explained in some detail about her suspicions with Arcos's silver blade, Alaintiqam. She explained the history of the Swordsman, the legendary warrior that led the war against the Aged Ones and the Denigrations in the ancient catastrophe known as the Moral Fracture. She explained the Swordsman’s ideals for a just world devoid of sin and evil. But his pure intentions became warped as his power corrupted his view of what was right and wrong. Her description of the Swordsman’s downfall closely resembled Arcos's own path of vengeance.

  Which only truly started when he found that sword. Just like the Swordsman.

  “Then we have to take it back from him, before it’s too late,” Reeva determined. She stood up and had to balance against the table to stop herself from falling. “Shit…”

  “You can barely stand,” Tilda admonished her. “You are too exhausted from this night. You just survived by the skin of your teeth, as have we all.” She pointed to them all and included herself. “There is little we can do as we are.”

  “I told him…” Boras countered. “I told him where that boy and his mother live… I may as well have signed their death warrants.”

  “That is not on you,” Tilda replied sharply. “You were threatened with death. Arcos was going to kill you. You had no choice. You had nothing to owe to those people. You did what you could to stay alive.”

  “I didn’t… I didn’t have to…” Boras coughed as he finished the tea. “If they’re dead… I can’t… I can’t be responsible for that… Tilda… Don’t ask me to be…”

  “I will not,” Tilda said sombrely. “But we are here now, and the simple fact is, we are not ready to pursue him.”

  “He won’t stop!” Reeva slapped the table with her hand. “You know that, Tilda! He won’t stop until he kills anyone who gets in his way.”

  “If he kills the Barons,” Torrance wondered, “wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

  “No, of course not!” Tilda snapped at him. “Have you forgotten all the Guild has taught you, you fool!? If Blade kills the Barons, there will come a desolation as those without power will fight and kill for it. Imagine the chaos we have now unleashed with Markus's death. Times that by six more deaths… it will be utter anarchy, unlike anything we’ve experienced before.”

  Torrance raised his hands in a mock surrender. “Okay… You’ve made your point. I was only playing Denigration’s advocate.”

  “Don’t. One of ours has already fallen prey to base desires. We cannot allow another.”

  “So what do we bloody do?” Reeva pushed, her face tense with worry for her lost friend. “We can’t just sit on our arses!”

  Tilda rose to her feet with Torrance’s help. She began to slowly pace the floor, holding her chin in thought.

  “We know that the blade Alaintiqam is fed by emotion. Each of us has seen Arcos use that sword in dire situations. And each time, his skill in swordsmanship drastically improves. This gives Alaintiqam a swell of power in return. Like a parasite. With Arcos's hatred for the Barons and his desire for vengeance, it is a deep well to be drawn upon.”

  “But that boost in power is temporary, isn’t it?” Torrance caught on.

  “Exactly.” Tilda nodded. “We can try to calm him down, make him see some reason. And with his guard down, then we snatch the sword from his grasp. It will cut off the power that both he and Alaintiqam need to function and we can subdue him.”

  “Then I can… I can beat the shit out of him.” Boras stated.

  Tilda did not admonish him for that. The corners of her mouth twitched. “That can certainly come later.”

  “At the very least, we should go to this wife and child of Snowhair’s.” Reeva stated. “If we can get them away to safety, then that’s something less to worry about.”

  Torrance raised an eyebrow at her. “Reeva, I find it hard to believe that we would do anything at all for the Bodyhunters.”

  “We fought alongside one of them!”

  “Because his interests aligned with ours. We’ve no allegiance to him. We mean nothing to him.”

  “I’m not talking about Darius!” Reeva threw up her hands. “His wife and child are innocent of all of this. They didn’t ask to get involved in this mad vendetta Arcos embarked on. They just want to live normal lives, like everyone else in this shitty country!”

  Reeva panted. “Gods… I feel so tired…” She sat back down on the bench. “I want to help them. This is what I feel is the right thing to do. And it will help Arcos as well. We have to do something. This is it.”

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Torrance looked to Tilda.

  She shrugged. “My mission from the Guild is to bring these three back home. There was no question as to how. Whichever way they go before their return, I shall follow.”

  Torrance then looked to Boras. Boras glanced up and rubbed his throat. “I want to stop Arcos. And save them. That’s all that matters.”

  Torrance put his hands on his waist and shook his head with a weary laugh. “I’m getting too old for this…”

  “You’re only four years older than me.” Tilda remarked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Which makes me old.” Torrance sighed. “Fine, fine. You win, Reeva. Let’s go get the slaver’s bloody family.”

  The door to the entrance hall of the tavern burst open. Tilda spun with Scar-Sire in her hand. The others were not as prepared. Maraby stumbled in, looking the picture of franticness.

  “I’m sorry for the intrusion, Four Claws!” Maraby said hurriedly. “But he insisted and I couldn’t refuse a man like him because… well, because he’s a Bodyhunter!”

  “What?” Torrance shouted.

  The group all rose to their feet as they regarded Maraby being followed by a dirtied and beleaguered man carrying a frail and bloodied woman in his arms.

  “Help us!” Darius Snowhair cried. “Help my wife! PLEASE!”

  “Bloody hells…” Torrance uttered as Tilda rushed to stop Darius from falling down and dropping the bleeding woman.

  Darius’s wife, Sandra, was laid on a cleared table with a fresh towel to soak the blood from her body and another towel to support her head and neck. Maraby tended to the slashes on her shoulder and arms as Darius sat by her side, refusing to leave her. It was a close call. But Maraby displayed expert skill in needlework and healing. Sandra was out of danger.

  Torrance, Tilda, Reeva, and Boras sat a ways from Darius on another table, eyeing him carefully. Each of the four had their weapons out, albeit laid on the table for Darius to see that they were ready to fight if the need arose. Darius had his sickles sheathed, showing that the need for caution was unnecessary.

  Darius sipped from the same tea that Maraby gave to Boras. His hands were jittery. His eyes were wide. He looked ready to break.

  “I see… So that’s how he knew.” Darius nodded as he drank the hot beverage, but some of it spilled on the floor due to his shaking.

  “I am sorry for this.” Boras admitted. “He would have killed me.”

  “Not your fault.” Darius replied quietly. “I had it coming. I just wish he came for me, not her…” He glanced with pained eyes as Sandra writhed in pain. The Blood’s Bark was working its benefits into her. But gods, it looked painful.

  “Well, a lot of decent people would still be alive, namely my people,” Torrance muttered, his hands clenched on the table. “If bad things did happen to you and your master.”

  Darius noted his comment, but did not respond.

  “‘Grave of his childhood…’” Reeva queried. “What did Arcos mean by that?”

  “It’s obvious.” Tilda spoke after remaining quiet during this tense encounter. “He means the place where his life was ruined, where he was sent after his father sold him…”

  Reeva widened her eyes in realisation. “Oh… oh no…”

  “The Salt Pit? Oh Gods…” Torrance rubbed his eyes. “I swore to never venture there again for as long as I lived. I hated that place.”

  “He took Thaddeus to ensure that I follow him.” Darius said. “I intend to.”

  “And then he will kill you, you fool.” Tilda explained. “Your son will most likely die too.”

  “Nevertheless, I will go.” Darius looked to each of the group. “But I cannot do it alone. So I am here to ask you for your aid.”

  There was a silence between the two tables. Only the crackling of the fire and Courageous’ slow breathing broke it.

  Darius continued drinking, seemingly waiting for a response from the group.

  Torrance and Boras stared at him. Tilda tapped her fingers on the table. And Reeva searched his eyes. Those eyes were clear as the sky. But mired by his fear over his son’s safety.

  Torrance scoffed. “We were going to keep an eye on your family, you know.”

  “That is honourable of you.” Darius thanked him.

  “Honour? What’s honour got to do with it? They’re your family. But he’s our friend. We are doing it so that he won’t become a monster like Markus. Or you.”

  Darius lowered his head. “I will not defend against that. I have yet to pay for the sins I committed. I did them to provide for my family. A thief will steal to feed his son.”

  “A thief steals food and money. Harmless items.” Torrance countered with a sneer. “Your kind stole people.”

  Another silence returned, until…

  “Tell me, Bodyhunter…” Tilda asked calmly. She seemed to be the only one in the room who held onto their emotions whilst the rest were in a state of nervous breakdown. “Are you willing to do whatever it takes to bring your son back?”

  Darius sat up straight. “Whatever it takes.”

  Tilda nodded. “That settles it. He is another hand to help us. Wasn’t he part of your rescue in the fortress, Torrance? You did not reject his help then. Will you withhold your help to him now?”

  Torrance shrugged and then nodded. “You have me there.”

  Courageous suddenly lurched his head up and looked towards one of the side doors that led to the bedrooms above the mess hall. It opened and Nerisity stepped into the room.

  Everyone rose to their feet, save for Sandra, Maraby and Courageous - who remained by the fireplace - to welcome Nerisity. She was dressed in a thick bedrobe with slippers and her hair was still wet. But despite the wash, her face was still puffy and her eyes red from crying. And she walked with a slight limp, hinting at the pain she had suffered by just walking.

  “I was listening through the door.” She said softly as she approached them. Reeva offered her her place on the bench. Nerisity nodded in thanks and sat before Darius. She winced as she lowered herself, her hand gripping her stomach.

  Everyone noticed that.

  She sighed raggedly but remained composed. She looked at Darius.

  “He took your son.” She said to him. “Because you came. You stole him from his home, ruined him and made him into the person he is now. Then you and Markus retuned and again, you destroyed his life. His peace. You ravaged my home, killed my friends…”

  Her face, her words, her eyes bloodshot with tears no longer shed, it proved too much for the Bodyhunter.

  Darius dropped the cup. It shattered on the floor. He fell on his knees. He pounded the floor with his fists and wailed into the earth. It was a strangled cry, filled with deepest regret and shame. He looked up at her, his eyes wide and dripping.

  “Forgive us…” he begged. “I am not the man I was… I am so sorry…”

  Nerisity stared back with an impassive stare that bored into him. “You still have a child. I do not.”

  Darius brought his writing hands to his face and howled again.

  “We will leave this city!” He swore. “We will leave and you will never see us again! I beg of you. Help me.”

  Nerisity looked to the others. They remained quiet.

  This was hers to decide, regardless of what they wanted. Out of all the people in the room, no one had more say than Nerisity in that moment. It was she who suffered the most. It was she, who was the most innocent, who had the evils wrought upon her by this man, no matter how indirectly it was. It did not matter how they felt about this. If she wanted, she could choose to leave his son to his fate. Leave Darius and his wife in misery.

  It was her right, as a childless mother.

  But Nerisity was not that type of person. She was not vengeful. Angry, yes. Filled with rage, even more so. But never vengeful.

  “Your son.” She said after a moment of silence that was interspersed by Darius’ sobs. He looked up at her. “He’s innocent in this. He had nothing to do with the things you had done. Your wife is innocent of this as well. It isn’t right what Arcos has done. But he’s in pain. Just like you.”

  She reached her hand across the table and laid her fingers on his clenched fist. Darius flinched at the touch, but did not pull away.

  “We’re not like you.” Nerisity emphasised. “We’re not like Markus or the other Barons. We’re better. And because of that, and that alone, we will help you. We will save your son. Not because we pity you. Not because we like you. It is because it’s what a good person would do.”

  Darius couldn’t keep looking her in the eye. He was humbled and deeply ashamed. This girl showed true spirit, a spirit that the Bodyhunters tried to destroy. But they failed. They underestimated the strength of this girl’s soul. It was truly unbreakable.

  Nerisity steadily rose to her feet. She turned to the others who watched her with varying degrees of awe and respect. She was taller somehow, her back was straighter and her eyes flickered with a fire that swelled in her heart.

  Her hand fell away from her stomach. The pain was no longer there.

  “Let’s go save them.” She stated flatly.

  “Are you sure?” Reeva asked her.

  “I am. I may be the only one that can get through to Arcos. You need me, more than ever.” Nerisity set her jaw. "Do not dissuade me."

  “Agreed.” Tilda nodded. She hefted Scar-sire and latched it to her belt.

  Reeva, Boras, and Torrance collected their weapons and wordlessly prepared themselves once again for a fight they all wished did not need to occur.

  Maraby stood by the quiet Sandra. “I shall keep her safe.”

  Courageous stood and moved towards the front door and waited for the rest to follow. Even he knew what was coming. His hackles were raised, and he was ready for combat.

  Darius knelt by his wife and kissed her. She kissed him back, though weakly.

  “Darius… I…” Sandra whimpered. “I wish I could come… I’m sorry I couldn’t protect him… I-”

  Darius kissed her again to stop her words. He cupped her face with his hands.

  “I will bring him back.” He promised before standing to follow the others. “I swear it on my life.”