Encounters on the third and fifth days

After that first evening, things weren't so bad for the trio. Gray was nearly back to his old self and Sha'Kir was able to relax a little better. Jester still made advances towards her, but Gray shrugged them off and kept going. They had stuck to the main road that first day and continued with that on the second, but the third day Jester had them leave the road. Gilhart forest wasn't on the main road, so reaching it meant they had to cross some monster infested plains instead of the well patrolled and traveled road.

They had been hiking through the plains for almost an hour when Gray tensed and drew his sword. He called out a warning, but both his comrades had taken note and were already prepared. several wargs came from almost out of no where, having been hidden in some bushes and tall grass. Wargs were deadly monsters that looked like large wolves. But they were different from such ordinary creatures. Wargs were nearly the size of a horse and had glowing eyes and claws that could rip through stone. Most people ran when faced with a pack the size of this.

"Now this is fun," shouted Gray as he spun, his sword taking the head of the first warg. He sidestepped an leaping attack from another before driving his blade into its side. Sha'Kir charged past her husband, ready to join the battle. Her sword cut through the side of one demon wolf while kicking out and sending another flying. Jester was laughing maniacally while flames erupted from his hands and burned several warg to ash. Gray's skill, Sha'Kir' strength, and Jester's magic pushed the Warg back easily and soon the few survivors of the pack had fled.

After taking the time to clean their weapons and gear, the trio kept moving. If nothing else, Gray and Sha'Kir were happier for what had happened. Jester just kept moving with the same warped smile he had worn during the battle. The rest of the day was fairly uneventful. That night they rested and ate, and even Gray and Jester seemed a little closer having fought side by side. That continued through the next day as well. But on the fifth day, things began to change. They were passing through an area that seemed to have seen battle recently. Discarded weapons, broken shields, and traces of magic scarred the earth. Both the weapons and shields were much larger than normal humans used. Jester frowned and examined one such scarred area.

"This was some truly dark magic. Lets hope we don't meet whatever caused this."

"These shields were all baring the same marks. I'm guessing the magic user was destroying a patrol or army of some sort. But the bodies," questioned Gray, looking around and realizing the remains were missing.

"We should keep moving," Sha'Kir said, looking around with her hand on her sword. The others were in agreement so they kept moving as quickly as they could. About an hour after leaving the scene of the battle they came across the ruins of village. Smoke arose from some of the ruins and the bodies that were scattered around were at least twice the size of a normal human. This was a village of Giants.

"What happened here," Sha'Kir asked, looking sadly at the bodies of a mother holding her children. Iron spikes had been driven through them. Around the village, similar scenes of **** were visible. Dark magic had been used in all their deaths.

"Melina's King sent his Jinn after us," a nearby pile of rubble was pushed aside and a young Giant woman came out from hiding. Her long dark hair was braided down her back and her dark green eyes were piercing. Her clothing was torn and ragged from whatever ordeal she had been through.

"Jinn? I've no knowledge of this," Jester countered, eyeing the woman skeptically.

"Its true! My grandfather was among the people who helped the King's father to tame two Jinn years ago! He always told me that "Fire and Earth bow to Melina's bloodline" and that they will destroy on that bloodline's whim."

"Excuse me, but what is a Jinn? I've never heard of that," questioned Sha'Kir. Jester sighed and looked her way.

"A Jinn is a familiar spirit. They control various elements and can be tamed by someone whose will is stronger. Once tamed they will do whatever their master commands and are often bound to the bloodline that tames them until they are released. If Melina's king has kept quiet about having Jinn, we may have more trouble ahead then I realized. We may need more help. But why would he send his Jinn here?"

"To destroy the knowledge of them. A month ago, a man visited my grandfather saying something all of them being in danger. I found out from grandpa later that that man had been a young boy at the time, and traveled with the late King when he tamed the Jinn. Everyone who traveled with the late King... They have all been murdered. He destroyed my whole village to keep it quiet."

"Jester, this is starting to sound like a conspiracy. What do you plan to do now," Asked Gray.

"I need to rethink our strategy. My magic wont hold against a single Jinn, much less two. I think we either need more help or a few Jinn of our own. I'll give it some thought and have some dossiers ready for more team members and possible Jinn location ready by the time we have get to Berenger."

"So you are enemies of the King?"

"Yes young lady, we are," Gray answered her. For a moment the young Giantess seemed unsure but then she nodded to herself and stepped forward.

"My name is Hanna and I wish to help you!"

"I'm sorry for your loss but you can't be more than a slip of a girl. What could you possibly do to help?"

"I'm eighteen! I'm not a girl and I've been training to fight since I was twelve! My family is dead and I will avenge them with or without you!"

Gray looked to Jester and then to Sha'Kir. Jester didn't seem to care one way of the other, but Sha'Kir looked worried. Without someone with her, the girl was as good as dead. Even as a Giant, she wouldn't stand much change against Melina's army on her own. On the other hand, if she came with them, there was no guarantee that she could survive either. It was a gamble either way.