A mercy that is not kindness.

"How about this: as I see it, you have about 4 things valuable on you. Three of your limbs, the loyalty of your men, your life, and your freedom. I will permit you to select the two of those you value most, and keep them. Any funny business, and I will still let you leave with two of them. Only, I will do the choosing. And trust me, you do not want me to make that choice for you."

Proving how little sense she has, she then presumed to threaten me. "Hah, you and what army? You look more than a little bit outnumbered here."

"Oh for the love of-do you really think you can take me? Ever considered why you walked away from that village alive? It's because I didn't want you dead, not because I couldn't make you! I got your arm-it would have been just as easy to get your neck-and then, we wouldn't be here having this little talk!"

I heard the sound of crossbows being pulled as she has apparently had enough of talking, trying to charge me. Unfortunately, the somewhat drawn out speech served more than just for me to vent. It served to delay while part of me charged up a Smite for longer than normal, nursing it into a bigger bang. As the first weapons begin to impact against my plating, a pulse of energy radiates out from me-slaying most of them in one fell swoop. Numbers don't mean jack when you have AoE spells. Even the survivors didn't have a good time of it-none of their mounts did, and a few who survived the spells died in the ensuing falls. The leader ended pinned under her own draft horse while I calmly strode up to bodies and survivors-Animating the former while finishing off the latter with a stab from tendrils normally used to inject chemicals. By the time she had finally managed to free herself and limp back up, I loomed over her.

Her spark of defiance still seemed to blaze, though, as she sneered. "Well-what? This the part where you **** and kill me?"

"No on both accounts" I gave back. "I'll be keeping my bargain you were keen to break. Your men and limbs are mine. You may have your life and your freedom." I pick her up between some of my thickest tentacles-a Heal restoring her before tossing her to the small crowd of zombies I'd amassed. "Get rid of those those extraneous limbs-one at a time, please. I need to make sure she doesn't bleed too much between them." The mindless creations they were, any loyalties they had instantly disappeared under my order, as they mobbed her, manhandling her up as they pulled in differing directions. Her formerly haughty demeanor seems to finally break down as the grim certainty of her fate finally sank in through her thick, cries begging them to stop falling on deaf ears.

Eventually, her body reached her limit to hold itself together-one by one, arm and legs separated as I diligently made sure the process wouldn't kill her. Their orders accomplished, the former bandits now stood there completely passively-the aggression they'd shown in complying completely gone without instructions to follow. So, I gave them something. "You. Pick up her limbs. The rest, grab your slain mounts. Then, all of you drag them out of sight, then await further orders." There would be none-this was just me cleaning up my messes.

As they move about to follow, I get on my way, paying no mind to the poor former highwaywoman, sobbing in her defeat. At least, until she managed something through those tears which game me pause. "You can't just leave me like this!"

"I most certainly can, and would, in fact, find it preferable. I said you may have your freedom, and I have no intent on going back on that." Given that enough people travelled this that she thought it was a good place to set up, I'm sure she'd be found soon enough...worse for the wear, but hopefully alive.

"Please..." She kept pleading. Honestly, it was so pathetic that it managed to tug on what little of a heart I had. I guess there's nothing wrong with it if it's her choice. I scoop her up to carry her within my form, practically able to feel her clench in discomfort as she rests among my coils. I hate to say, but I actually felt an odd sense of satisfaction with that-the sense of power of her helpless in my grasp as me and Nanase continued on our way.