Adam watched from the cart, having fired off a single Fme Bolt towards the wolves, while the Iyrmen made short work of the wolves, three dead within seds, while the rest of the wolves darted away.

  Victory!XP Gained: +100 XP: 3 700 -> 3 800

  Adam’s eyes fell down to the three rge wolves which had fallen, each dire wolves like Kit’a and Jay’a. ‘Have we really grown that much stronger?’

  The Iyrmen, who had burst forth with death, didn’t even break a sweat. Lucy, however, remained beside Mara, staring down at the wolves awkwardly. She had been so eager to sy them upon first sight, but after a few moments, she realised how little she wanted for their deaths, especially sidering their pany.

  ‘Last year I didn’t get to fight much, but now…’ Her eyes fell to Vonda. The shame filled the young woman.

  “You didn’t want to fight?” Adam asked.

  “Are wolves worthy enough for me to kill?” Lucy replied, huffing as she rested her rge greataxe against her shoulder, her eyes towards the sky, avoiding the gazes of her panions.

  “There is o take much from the beasts,” Amokan said, taking note of Vonda’s presence. “We should take a few pieces for our trophies and leave the beasts behind for the forest to e.”

  The Iyrmen began to butcher one of the beasts to part between themselves, while Vonda prayed for the beasts’ souls, and the group tinued along their way. The vilges on their journey gave them little trouble, while Adam handed over the gold for the gate fee. The vilgers’ eyes y cautiously upon the charcoal skinned fellow.

  When they came across the third vilge, the Iyrmen paid keen attention to how many bourers were w on the northern side of the vilge, and the soldiers overseeing the task.

  ‘A road?’ Jurot thought. ‘Towards the new forts they are building?’

  It was the day before Red Oak when Adam recalled the Aldish were building new forts, as they came across an outpost in which they found some trouble. The Viander of the Order of the Thousand Hunts gred towards the group as they approached.

  “Halt!” shouted the ander of the fort, an old man as pale as time, who wore his wrinkles with pride, like the medals over his breastpte. He wore full pte armour, with a long dark cape, and he rested his elbow casually between the hilt of his bde and his side. “I hear there are demons afoot within yroup.”

  “Greetings ander,” Jurot replied. “I am Jurot-,”

  The ander drew his bde, pointing it towards the Iyrman. His eyes then fell across the pair of red skinned women to the side. “Are you the demons?”

  Lucy began to sweat slightly, noting the archers upon the walls, with bows pointing against the floor, with arrows knocked, ready to be drawn.

  “Excuse me,” called the smooth voice of the Prince. “I am Prince Morkarai, Seventh Prince of the Fire Giants of Shakador.”

  “A Prince? What is a Prince doing, cav with demons?”

  “They are esc me safely to return home.”

  “Demons, esc?” the ander asked. “Have they charmed you?”

  ‘Damn it,’ Adam thought, his sharp sigh breaking through the silence around the group.

  Thankfully, there was still wisdom within the group, as a figure removed her helmet, revealing her face. She smiled, her lower face partly burnt. She reached down towards her amulet, holding it with both hands.

  The ander’s eyes darted from the Prio the figure who had removed her helmet. His bde pointed downwards, away from the group. “Blessings upon you, Mother.” The ander’s voice held the slightest doubt, vaguely reising the bck attire the woman wore, keeping her hair hidden, and only her face open to the world, not even her ears peeking against the world.

  “I am Ray Vonda, of Life’s Rose,” Vonda said.

  The ander inhaled deeply, his eyes falling across the Viander of the Thousand Hunts beside him for a moment. “What do we owe the pleasure, Ray Vonda?”

  “We are merely esc the Prince safely through the nd. I have been tasked by Mother Priest to watch over those you call demons.”

  An awkward silence filled the air for a long moment, while Vonda smiled politely towards those within the fort.

  A soldier gowards his panion. ‘I didn’t sign up to shoot arrows at a Ray.’

  ‘Rex,’ the soldier replied, squinting her eyes towards the woman. ‘No way we’ll shoot arrows at a Ray.’

  The ander inhaled sharply. There was still a doubt within his heart. She was too young to be a Ray, that was for sure, but there were very few people who would pretend to be a Ray. “Do you have any proof you are a Ray.”

  Vonda held up her amulet, and the ander marched down from the walls, the gates opening as the aormed forward without missing a beat, the Viarailing behind him.

  “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Viander,” Vonda said, smiling politely to the Viander of the Thousand Hunts.

  “…” The Viander vaguely recalled the woman. ‘Did she pass by with the Hope previously?’

  “The Seventh Hope passed by a few weeks ago,” the ander said. “Do you know of him?”

  “Hope Thomas,” Vonda firmed. “He was esc Mother Florehey arrived for my wedding.”

  “Your wedding?” the ander asked.

  “I married at the end of the st year.”

  “gratutions.”

  “Thank you.”

  Adam stood a little taller. ‘Yeah, that’s right.’ “There were also a group of Iyrmen, and a young woman esc them, right?”

  “Correct,” the ander said, cheg the amulet thhly, before handing it back to the Ray. ‘If they know this much, then it should be fine.’ His eyes sed across the tattoos of the Iyrmen. “Are you all reted to those who passed by?”

  “They are our younger cousins,” Jaygak firmed.

  “My father is in charge of esc them,” Amokan said.

  “Prince Morkarai, was it?” the ander asked.

  “Yes.”

  “And you are returning home?”

  “Yes.”

  “What brought you to Aldnd?”

  “I was given a task by my family, and I have pleted it.”

  “What task was that?”

  “I was to assist the Iyr.”

  “How?”

  “I was to defend it.”

  “From what?”

  “From whatever may have e to threaten it.” Morkarai’s eyes remaiaring at the anders.

  “Of course.” The ander gnced between them all. “You may ehe fort. The demons are sidered uhe watchful eye of Life’s Rose.”

  “I must press the issue,” the Viander said.

  “We do not support your a,” the aated, firmly.

  “We do not need you to support our as, it is our oaths which we obey.”

  “Do you truly wish to press the issue?” Ray Vonda asked, her smile still so polite.

  “I must.”

  Morkarai’s eyes fell to those who wore amulets, eleven total, the ten heavily armoured fellows stepping up behind their Viander. ‘How troublesome.’ “Must you step forward to attack those who are esc me?”

  “If it is a matter of esc, we will send two of our own to repce the fiends.”

  “You will be uo send them,” Mara said, crossing her hands over her navel as she straightened up, her eyes darkening. “They will not survive.”

  Though the Viander’s eyes fell to the demon who spoke to him, a deep heat of hatred filling his bones, he could see from his peripheral vision of the Iyrmen shifting about. They twisted their bodies from side to side, while oretched herself against her staff, while the figure in purple remaiill like a statue.

  Adam leaned in towards Vonda. “Will he step back?”

  “He may not,” Vonda admitted.

  “I won’t kill them, but…” Adam motioned his head to the Iyrmen around him.

  Vonda inhaled deeply. “I only request you do not kill them, but am I able to stop Iyrmen from killing?”

  “You just o ask, and I’m sure our brother won’t kill anyone.”

  “…” Jurot nodded.

  “Jaygak, Kitool, will you two kill if we ask you not to?”

  “It’s more difficult not to kill,” Jaygak said.

  “Yeah, so won’t it be more impressive?”

  ‘He’s right.’ “I will not kill, but… I wish to face the Viander.”

  “…”

  “…”

  Adam frowned. ‘I wao beat him up.’ “Okay.”

  “Then I won’t kill,” she replied, smirking as she donned her helmet once more.

  “I will not kill if it is requested,” Kitool stated calmly, stretg out her neck from side to side.

  “Shikan, Timojin?”

  “You would ask us not to kill?” Shikan asked.

  “Seriously? Are you going to treat my wife like this?”

  “Okay,” Timojin replied.

  ‘His wife?’ The thought passed through all those around him. ‘Was he talking about the devilkin, or the human?’

  “Dear, why don’t you step back, I don’t want to get blood on your armour,” Adam said, pg a hand on Vonda’s back, guidio step aside. “Why don’t you remain beside Prince Morkarai, that way we’re still sidered to be esc him.”

  “You will be outnumbered,” Morkarai said, cutting through their thoughts of figuring out who the fellow in purple armour was talking about.

  “That’s fine.”

  ‘Why are they speaking so casually?’ the Viahought. “It seems you Iyrmen have yet to learn about this world.”

  “We know more than enough, Viander Harrison,” Amokan said, fshing a wide smile. “Your panions make up four who hold the title of Senior, and six who hold the title of Warrior.”

  “If you know that much, you should step back.”

  “How strong are Seniors and Warriors?” Adam asked.

  “Seniors are between Experts and Masters. Warriors are Experts.”

  “What?” Adam asked.

  “If you know that much, you should step back,” Viander Harrison said, drawing his bde, pointing it towards Lud Mara, calming his rage. “We will five you for your transgressions if you step baow and allow us to execute the demons.”

  “Hold on,” Adam said. “I feel like this is bullying.”

  “We are exeg justice,” Harrison stated, his voice growing deeper and darker, full of authority.

  “Lucy, Mara, you two should step back.”

  “What?” Lucy asked.

  “I will not step back.”

  “You o step back, otherwise how we show off?” Adam asked. “If we talk about how we beat up a bunch of Experts, it’s not that impressive, but if we’re outnumbered two to ohen it’s acceptable.”

  Lucy blinked. “If they want to take our heads, they won’t do it without me tearing them apart.”

  “Take your heads?” Adam asked, donning his red shield, gripping it tight in hand. “If they want your head, they should at least be as strong as that bastard.”

  The air suddenly shifted as Adam pulled out Wraith. The shaft was grey, the bde made of a steel the colour of dark night, with a small streak like lightning across its side. He could feel it brimming with great power. It was a on which was sidered among the best he had made.

  Jurot drew his owhe purple metal gleaming ie afternoon sun, the young Iyrman’s body full of deathly anticipation. Phantom’s magic filled his fingers, the bde perhaps sidered the best that Adam had made, except one which could trade blows with it.

  Kitool grasped Tigerstaff in hand, feeling its great magic within it. The same staff which, if she had used it against Jurot, would have certainly granted her victory iourwo years ago. It was, as Adam would put it, a really aff. Oside there was nothing special about it, but within Kitool’s hands, she could feel as though she could defeat the Viander. No, perhaps she could defeat even the ander of the fort. This staff, no doubt, matched the might of Phantom.

  Jaygak strapped her shield, and uhed her owhe dark steel barely catg the light. The magic within it coursed through her fiips, through her hand and up towards her shoulder. The bde glowed gently upon Jaygak’s will, the young woman’s eyes glued to the Viahe bde was also among the best Adam had made.

  Shikan and Timojiheir own ons, each sidered Basihanced, and though not quite as good as any of their panions, they were better than the Basic ons their oppos held.

  ‘I almost feel bad for them,’ Shikan thought.

  ‘I should beat them well since I ot kill,’ Timojin thought.

  The Viander could feel his hairs stand on end, and as his bde poiowards his oppos. He could feel it. A chill which he hadn’t felt in so many years.

  Battle Order (Dexterity)D20 + 1 = 2 (1)

  Is this the quickest we've gotten to a proper battle?