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Chapter length: 3,179 words

Chapter 2

(Outside Monmouth)

Ophilena, Pavhik, and Raulyn are on the road, leaving the town of Monmouth. They are currently together because their destinations lead them on the same path for most of their journey and Raulyn suggests she team up with him and Pavhik. During their trip, they make small conversations similar to days prior to prevent the silence from corrupting them, but they're taciturn for the preponderance of their trip. She knows that Pavhik can't articulate a coherent sentence from Raulyn.

During their journey, Ophilena glances at Raulyn and Pavhik, unsure what to make of them, particularly Raulyn. Why is a Hearthrow far away from his clan by himself, especially with a high reputation and an emphatic appearance? With the hulking brute, I'm assuming his bodyguard, beside him, they are as blatant as piss in the snow. I wouldn't be surprised if he encountered hostility already or about to.

The trio arrives at the branch path where they will separate to their individual routes. Sensing vibrations on the ground, Ophilena places her ears against the dirt. A group of fifty horses, two different breeds, are west of here. They're charging towards us. She sniffs the air. I smell death.

Raulyn is aware of Ophilena perceiving their surroundings. “We have company?"

“We have company," Ophilena answers. “Lots of it." Ophilena and Raulyn behold a black blob stopping at the top of the hill in the distance, unable to discern many features besides spears.

At the hill, a one-horned Kivalian stares at the trio through his telescope, putting it away after confirming his target. Along with him are seventy-four men on horseback, riding in pairs. They wait for their commander to give them orders, unfazed by noxious odor of human cadavers of various ages rotting on their spears and the squeals from the live Majakaal behind them with her hands and feet tied.

“What do you think?" The Kivalian's disfigured second in command asks. He giggles uncontrollably.

“Our target's easy prey. Attack them, and we shall celebrate our victory on the Half-Elf," the Kivalian orders. “Send in the first wave." The first wave consisting of six horses begin charging at Ophilena, Pavhik, and Raulyn.

“Here they come," Ophilena utters.

“I suggest we run," Raulyn responds. He watches Ophilena wield her bow, and fire a couple of arrows. “Or we can fight here in a perilous position. Let's go with that." She's either overestimating her capabilities or demented.

The first arrow impales in one of the horses front legs, causing it to roll over. The momentum dispatches the two riders by crushing them with the animal's weight. The second arrow lodges itself in another man's heart, falling over, and his steed drags him along the ground as it breaks free from the horde. Following the double arrows, a barrage of them thins out the group by six members. The survivors retreat back to the Kivalian where rage greets them.

“I said go after them!"

“But sir." The grunt with the corpse dangling on the horse's side loses his sentence as the Kivalian rips him in half by grabbing his four limbs concurrently.

“Send in the next wave, and I better not see any of you return unless you come bearing two heads and a naked Half-Elf." Another wave of twelve horses, including the survivor from the first wave, barrel towards the trio.

“We should withdraw to a defensible position or to gather reinforcements," Raulyn suggested. He watches in disbelief as Ophilena fires more arrows at the horde, reducing her supply to approximately half while dwindling the force's size to fourteen. Then she transforms into her alternate form, and charges in. Does anybody know anything about battlefields?

Tilaja leaps onto the nearest bandit, slashing his throat with her claws. He gurgles blood as he grabs his neck before the Grim Reaper collects him. Unable to control the horse, his live companion accidentally commits friendly fire with a crossbow towards a comrade on his right, impacting below the ribcage and eliminating the controller before she finishes him off.

Superior in numbers, the bandits start to surround Tilaja, cutting off any escape routes. Her speed is no match against multiple attacks from every possible direction, sustaining cuts across her sides and cheeks. Their attacks are unrelenting, providing her with brief windows of opportunity for her to make an attack.

Raulyn realizes that Tilaja will lose soon from even after she disposes two more bandits, noticing that her energy is on the decline. He stares at Pavhik while having an inner debate, sighing at the conclusion. I can't believe I'm doing something so asinine. “Pavhik… smash."

Wielding a greatclub that is from an enormous tree trunk, Pavhik bolts towards the fight, and the ground near his footsteps shake. The criminals wonder what's causing the ground to shudder, morphing into fear at the brawny brute his giant club across. Two bandits and their steed soar in the air from the impact while his second swing fuses another set to the ground.

The highwaymen quake in their boots from the attacks, focusing a majority of their retaliation on Pavhik. Their satisfaction at their hits is simply a veil as they observe he isn't daunted by his afflictions, realizing that they require extra manpower and firepower. The sight of the Kivalian eating one of their dead companion's arms has them between a rock and a hard place.

Watching the carnage occur, the Kivalian becomes excited at the growing threat, grunting energetically as the second wave reduces to zero. “Finally, an adversary that strikes fear into my heart. Prepare for an all out assault."

“Sir, I believe that those three aren't worth it," one of the grunts says. “Let's search for other travelers or a village that are easier prey."

“Nonsense. Life isn't worth living unless you escape Death's clutches. I've escaped death on multiple occasions serving my country, and now life's other pleasures don't cut it for me. You think that raping, pillaging, and murder get your blood pumping? Wrong. It's knowing that your on the verge of death that does it, and it's the greatest sensation ever."

“You're fucking crazy. I-“ The bandit doesn't finish as the Kivalian rips his head off, drinking his blood dripping from his melon. His headless body falls to the ground. The Kivalian clutches his pendant on his bare chest that resembles a miniature heart, and it pulsates as one.

“Now men, attack. Bask in life's glory by embracing your certain chances of death. Prove to me that I didn't rescue a bunch of pussies like your two friends from devastation after Thalzur's death. Charge." The final wave gallops across the field towards Ophilena, Pavhik, and Raulyn.

“Now do you want to retreat with us?" asks Raulyn.

“Good idea," Tilaja answers.

“Try for the forest behind us. We're sitting ducks for the horses in the open."

“Hop on."

“No thanks. I have him." Raulyn gestures to Pavhik and grabs his attention. “Pavhik… lift." With one hand, Pavhik elevates him, putting him on his shoulders. He points him to the woods. “Run."

The trio hopes that the short distance can compensate for their lack of speed as they run to their only source of security. Most of the crossbow bolts either fly pass them or imbed within Pavhik. One impacts against Tilaja's behind her left leg, and she topples over, reverting back to Ophilena at the worst possible time. Raulyn detects her agonizing cries, and stops Pavhik. As identical to the prior occurence, he sighs that he's going against his logical side as they are at the woods, and he orders Pavhik. “Pavhik… save."

Like locusts on a helpless farmer's crops, the bandits swarm Ophilena, attempting to have their way with her. She struggles against them as they attempt to remove her panties and tearing off her clothes with some of them exposing their flaccid cocks already.

Pavhik interrupts the criminals' playtime by making their height smaller that Raulyn's with his greatclub, reducing their numbers by eight before the Kivalian intervenes. He catches Raulyn by surprise while he captures the giant's weapon with his four limbs. This Kivalian is vastly different than his entire race. They're strong, but not even the strongest races can stop that weapon. Is he even from this world?

“Fight me," the Kivalian ordered. “Make me feel alive, and I promise to make your death spectacular." Nobody in his group dares to stab Pavhik, knowing that he doesn't appreciate outside influence.

“He doesn't have the mental capacity to understand normal conversion, let alone speak,"Raulyn responds. “You have to enunciate like this. Pavhik… low." The giant places him on the ground. He points at the leader. “Pavhik… smash."

In another stunning feat of athleticism, the Kivalian is an even match against Pavhik, dishing out solid hits on the juggernaut. Any hits he receives doesn't leave him in a bloody or debilitate him in any capacity. He revels in each hit he takes, his blood pumping harder.

“Excellent. Don't hold back. More. I want more."

Is he getting off on this? thought Ophilena and Raulyn concurrently.

Witnessing the Kivalian still standing in after not one but multiple hits, Pavhik becomes ballistic, and enters in a frenetic state, hitting harder against him. The collisions only result in more visual bruises and broken bones, but not in a liquid state. Ophilena, Raulyn, and the Kivalian's grunts contort their bodies in disgust at the leader as he snaps his body into place, creating unnatural, fulsome sounds, and vexing Pavhik.

“Fuck, I have never felt so alive," the Kivalian exclaimed. “This is what life is all about. Now, my friend, I must reward you."

The leader reveals a necklace around his neck. Dangling from it is a heart, pulsating with visible veins and arteries. Crimson liquid drips between his fingers as he crushes it with a sickening squish sound. Bright red, jagged veins materialize on his skin as he rapidly gains extra strength. A simple swing from one of his arms sends shockwaves to everyone around him, blowing their loose clothing and hair from the wind.

It's not even a fair fight for Pavhik as the Kivalian pummels him with his four fists. Whatever attacks he manages to execute have less effect on him no matter how much his fury and frustration fuels him.

It's becoming more pellucid to Ophilena and Raulyn that they and Pavhik are going to suffer and die unless any meaningful reinforcements arrive. She places her right ear one the ground, smiling as she detects vibrations from the second group of horses galloping closer to them, and Raulyn notices her grin.

“You find our situation amusing?"

“I have a feeling that it will change for the better real soon," Ophilena responds.

The Kivalian also observes her smile. “I'm glad that you accepted your fate as being my men's toy once the giant and the dwarf are dead."

“Human," Raulyn pointed out.

“Does it make a difference?" asks the Kivalian, rhetorically.

Everybody detects a shout in the distance. “Iiuxiik, meriiex!" They glance over and observe thirteen horses barreling at them at full speed. A glimmer of hope appears inside Ophilena as she witnesses the Cerths arriving.

“Attack the Farlanders!" The Kivalian orders his men and points at the Cerths, believing that the trio aren't a threat and can't travel far.

Before he and his henchmen charge at the Cerths, Ophilen and Raulyn pull the Majakaal off of the commander's horse without him noticing. With how much the Majakaal's clothes are gone, showing obvious signs of tearing, she might as well be completely naked. They cut her ropes, telling her to not move. While the fight rages on, Ophilena decides now is the time to using her healing magic and health potions to patch herself and anyone else with injuries in case they need to flee or fight.

“You knew they were coming?" asks Raulyn. “How?"

“You have your skills with war, while I have mine with tracking," Ophilena answers. “If I concentrate, I know what's around me and in what numbers."

Two opposing sides collide with their steeds with a thunderous clash of swords. Metallic clangs turn to fleshy lacerations and liquid splattering the grass as the Cerths massacre the Kivalian's minions while suffering a couple of their own casualties. Spears pierce muscle. Bodies plummet off their horses, and even some steeds pay the ultimate price.

The Kivalian notices a Certh showing supreme skills with his swords, captivating him. Dispatching a Farlander or two along the way with his fists, he attempts to swing at him.

Reginus notices a four-armed, red-skinned, humanoid with a head of a bull on the verge of hitting him with his fist, and narrowly dodges it, falling of his horse during the maneuver. The Kivalian hops off his steed, preferring to face his opponent on mostly even terms.

Reginus starts off on the defensive, backing up while avoid the onslaught of punches. These punches aren't normal. Then again, he is abnormal. One of them can absolutely devastate me if it doesn't kill me outright. He ducks from one attack and pivots his sword up, cutting the Kivalian, and forcing him to scream in pain for once before smiling.

“Yes. Pain. I love being in danger," the Kivalian utters.

Does he enjoy being in pain? thought Reginus. Another cut on his opponent confirms his suspicion. At least one Kivalian aspect hasn't changed. He just needs one solid window to make his attack count as he focuses on avoiding every fist flying at him. The opportunity arrives at a terrible cost. He hears Ambaxius charge at the bandit's leader and witnesses him soar from a punch. With his adversary's back facing him and furious, Reginus slices a major cut on the Kivalian's belly, exposing the intestines and other organs. He watches him fall to his knees, using half of his arms to hold his guts in place as blood pours from his mouth. He finishes him off with a vertical cut up his torso. His worst fear comes to life by confirming Ambaxius's death. The death toll is every bandit and five Cerths.

Once the Cerths regroup, they walk over to Ophilena, Pavhik, Raulyn, and the Majakaal. “Any of you injured?" asks Reginus. He hands the Majakaal clothing out of fur pelts to provide sufficient cover for her.

“Not as much, thanks to Ophilena," Raulyn answers. “I shall see to it that you reward will be substantial for rescuing a Hearthrow and the others."

“We're not interested in it. The bandits have been on our mind since Cavtry during our search for one of our own. We figured they were near us because of their fight against you."

“How did you know how to defeat the leader?" asks Ophilena. “He shrugged that giant's blows off like it was nothing."

“Kivalians suffer slashes from the sword the same as all the other races," Reginus answers. “They are resistant to bludgeoning, so you were playing to his strengths. I haven't heard a single story of a non-Kivalian beating one in a fist fight. That weakness still holds true even if that Kivalian is abnormal."

“I'm not positive if this is the Certh you're looking for, but I know one that's spending his time further south in the Fertilelands. Consider that your reward."

“Very well. We'll follow your tip tomorrow. Right now we must give our own a proper burial and hold a feast in their honor while burning the criminals so the carcasses don't corrupt the land."

“The three of us will relocate then. I understand that your ceremony for burial is a private event. I'm not positive about the Majakaal."

Reginus turns his focus on the Majakaal. “Any idea where you can go?"

“No idea," the Majakaal replies. “I've lost everything at Cavtry and I have no connections elsewhere. Maybe travel with those three." She indicates Ophilena, Pavhik, and Raulyn.

“I'm traveling to the Wolfpack branch in Hemloth," Ophilena responds.

“I recommend going with Ophilena," Raulyn suggested. “Edgepoint's politics are nasty affairs."

“I know the guild has employment opportunities there that pay well. You can rebuild your life there if you desire… uh, what's your name."

“Neirioui," the Majakaal answers. “I'm interested in knowing on what are the jobs at the Wolfpack, so I would like to travel with you if you don't mind."

“Not at all," Ophilena responds. “We'll spend the night with those two gentlemen over there, and tomorrow it'll be just us the entire way to Hemloth." She proceeds to retrieve as many of her arrows as possible.

Neirioui, Ophilena, Pavhik, and Raulyn observe the bonfire's glow from a distance as they prepare their own camp for the night. After ingesting their food, they are inside a tent large enough to accommodate everybody due to Pavhik's size. During their introductions, Neirioui notices that the giant brute doesn't talk at all, and instead drools and produces bizarre sounds while smiling constantly.

“Pay him no mind," Raulyn says as he notices her. “There were complications during his birth, and that's why he's this. He has a gentle and kind temperament once you get past his quirks."

Ophilena starts to swap her shredded clothing for a fresh set, handing the Majakaal another to change from the fur pelts as she notices her discomfort. “I'm curious as to why a Hearthrow such as you would be at Garen's Well or beyond."

Raulyn faces away from her and Neirioui, and instructs Pavhik to do the same. “Because somebody forgot to hold up the family code of honoring deals and rewards, and I intend on rectifying it." Raulyn waits for several minutes while the females finish their tasks. “Is it safe to turn around?"

“Yes," Ophilena answers.

Raulyn turns around and beholds Neirioui in her new clothes while Ophilena is in the nude. “You all of a sudden decided to try sleeping in your bare skin?"

“I'm showing you how a Wolfpack member gives thanks."

“Would I be subjected to this if I work for the guild?" asks Neirioui.

“Only of your own volition," Ophilena answers. “There are plenty jobs there where your off limits, and even the ones that do aren't mandatory. When and if your ready, you'll find plenty of takers is what I'm trying to say."

“What if I'm unworthy of your thanks?" asks Raulyn.

“Then we don't progress further. I'm curious as to why you say you aren't."

“I'm only worthy of whores, and I know you aren't one."

“Uhh, thanks?" Ophilena isn't sure of how to take his answer.

“We spent six days getting to know each other, albeit not a lot, while on the road. That's still enough for me to not engage in coitus with you. I prefer having zero knowledge about someone when getting laid." With Raulyn's refusal, Ophilena still sleeps in the nude along with him Neirioui, and Pavhik.

Watching them and the Cerths from afar, a man on horseback hides his telescopic device and rides off. I found my target. Will move to engage once he's far away from the Cerths.

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