Aftermath of Blue-Rock - Day 10

Just a quick warning that this chapter is a bit long, i think it came up at about 6k words but is seperated into three parts. In future, I'll try to keep my chapters much shorter.

Elsie

There was a loud commotion coming from downstairs, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I sat up in my bed. I looked out of the window, it was dark, the sky a blanket of blackness interrupted only by the pinpricks of distant stars. The noise coming from downstairs was loud, as though dozens of people were arguing. I quickly pulled on my maid uniform over my shift, it was a little uncomfortable, the design obviously chosen for appearance over practicality.

As I got dressed, I gently pushed open the door that entered into Zarin’s room. It was empty, the blankets on his bed a mess as though he had quickly left the room. I stepped through the room and out into the hallway. The noise grew louder as I exited the room, it was coming from the entry-way, near the doors I thought.

I walked through the hallway and descended the staircase. I saw the source of the commotion immediately. A servant was at the doors with a group of guards helping him from allowing them to be opened further. Beyond the servant were a swarm of people from the village, I couldn’t make out what they were saying, there were too many of them yelling at once.

I saw some of the other servants who I had met whilst working under Theodora. I walked towards them, seeing them looking concerned, their lips moving in a flurry of gossip. “What’s going on?” I asked them, “Isn’t it a bit late?”

One of them was clearly eager to spill what she knew to anyone who would listen, “I heard that a group of ogres had attacked the village, they’ve all came here to ask Lord Motten for his help” she gestured towards the villagers trying to spill into the manor. “I’m glad we live in the manor; we have his protection here” she went on to say before spouting whatever nonsense she knew about ogres.

“What did he say then?” I interrupted her

“Huh? What did who say?” she asked, frowning that I had interrupted her explanation regarding the monstrosity of ogres

“Lord Motten, is he sending help?” I clarified, crossing my arms as I grew tired of her

“Oh, no he’s keeping the guards here to protect the manor. A good thing as well, if one of them came this way we’d be defenceless. Of course I’m sure the Lord would be able to kill them if it came to it though” she gushed, apparently in awe of Lord Motten’s undemonstrated prowess in battle.

I was horrified that he would deny help to the village, I had heard Aucus tell his tale of the battle with the ogre that he and Lord Beckront fought. It had sounded difficult, after Sephenia and Canis, he was probably the best swordsman in the village, the others wouldn’t stand a chance. Even still, from what he had said, it seemed that the only reason that the ogre was defeated was because of Lord Beckront’s spirit.

I recognised some of the faces at the door and walked over, ignoring the questions coming from the other servants as I walked away from them. I ducked under the arms of the guards that were facing the doorway and squeezed through the small gap left by the servant as I came out into the night air. “Henry!” I exclaimed as I saw my friend in the crowd with his mother.

I rushed the few steps over to him and wrapped my arms around him in a hug, he smelled of fresh bread as usual, the perks of living in a bakery. It was so good to see one of my friends again, things weren’t too bad at the manor now, but I missed him, Aucus too.

“Elsie” he looked a little surprised to see me as he returned the embrace. His face was a little swollen and bruised, presumably from the beating that Clen had given him. “It’s good to see you again, Sephi told me what had happened to you. And that Aucus had to…” he trailed off and I saw him with an angry flare to his eyes. I had never seen Henry get angry before, even when Clen was at his worst.

“It’s okay, I’m okay. What’s happening in the village?” I asked, not wanting to dwell on my slavery.

He looked like he wanted to press me for more, but he nodded his head and conceded. “Ogres” he said at last, “Sephi saw a pack of them a few days ago and we asked for help. He said no.” he almost spat the sentence as he nodded towards the manor. “One of them came into the village yesterday but we managed to kill it. Now the rest have come, maybe a dozen of them. People have died.” He said and I felt a cold hand grip my heart.

“Who?!” I demanded quickly; my mother had gone to the village. Her and Mia, they had to be safe.

He shook his head, “I don’t know.” He said at last, “I saw a couple of bodies, but I was running, I didn’t get a good look at them. Some of the others saw people as well, but no one is really talking about the dead” he said quietly, looking down at the ground, almost ashamed.

I felt tears welling in my eyes at the terrible thought, I brushed them away and shook my head. No, they’re not dead. They’re fine, I told myself. I looked around the crowd, maybe twenty people in total, none of them looked like they would have done much in a fight.

I saw Kira in the crowd,_ didn’t she want to be an adventurer _I thought, why wasn’t she in the village fighting.

A loud bang came from within the manor, and I looked back to see Zarin storming out of the doors belonging to his father’s office. The man himself followed behind, they were loud, but I couldn’t make out any words, they seemed to be arguing passionately. He stormed towards the manor doors, his father following him as I began to make out what they were screaming at each other.

“NO! I don’t care what you say, I’m not going to stay here whilst people die” the boy shouted, his hands gesturing as his voice echoed from the walls of the manor.

“Boy, you’ll do what I tell you.” The bulky man declared in a much calmer tone, though no less intimidating for it

“I won’t!” he declared, “I’m going to go into the village and fight those monsters. You could order my bodyguards to stay, but we both know you’re not going to risk my life like that” he said, the villagers pleas had quietened as they listened to the argument between father and son. Even the servant who had been trying to address the rabble had quietened and turned his head to watch the scene.

A cry of appreciation came from one of the villagers at Zarin’s declaration and more followed. I couldn’t help but smile at the scene. Lord Motten’s face turned a red colour as his anger welled within him, but Zarin ignored it. “You lot!” he shouted, pointing to the guards at the door. “Prepare for battle, gather what men you can find. We ride for Blue-Rock”

As he left the entry-way for deeper in the manor, I caught his eye and smiled. I couldn’t help but to feel a little proud of him, it was strange but watching him stand up to his father for the village just felt good. He smiled back at me and quickly disappeared from my sight as he descended on a hallway.

I stayed with Henry and the others as Lord Motten stormed back to his office and slammed the door shut, sending a tremor throughout the walls of the manor. We talked and consoled each other about our worries, Henry told me that my mother and sister were still living with Sephi which was good, but he also told me of what Motten was doing to punish everyone for what Aucus did.

At last Zarin returned, he was clad in stylish armour painted white with the bear crest adorning his heart. He held a helmet under his arm as the other rested on the hilt of his blade. The others were adorned with silver plate and carrying an assortment of weapons from swords to axes, to war hammers; presumably whatever they were best with.

As they prepared, servants had been sent to ready horses for them, they were by the gates of the manor, wearing blinders and saddled, prepared for battle. The guardsmen, pushed past the villagers who tried to move to the side and make room for them. They mounted their horses and readied themselves for Zarin to take command.

As he left the manor, he stopped by me. He looked impressive in the armour, as though he was made for it, made to lead men. ”Good luck, don’t get hurt.” I said to him, moving my head up to look at him.

He gave me a smile as he met my gaze, “Thank you. In case I don’t make it back, can I get a kiss?” he said.

I blushed at the request and felt the others in the crowd watching me, he was going to fight for the people I cared for, he was risking his life for them. Surely, the least I could do was give him a little kiss.

I tilted my head up and pursed my lips to give him a soft peck. As my lips met his, I felt his hand on my waist as he pulled me close to him. He turned my kiss from a soft peck into something passionate, our lips moving over each other’s for about half a minute. It felt good.

At last he released me and said farewell as he departed through the crowd and mounted his horse. He looked back at me one last time and smiled before letting out a roar and beginning the charge towards the village.

Zarin

I was awoken in the middle of the night by a servant, he informed me that a rider had came to the manor and my father was demanded my presence in his office. Reluctantly, I pushed myself from my bed and dressed myself into a simple outfit before descending the staircase. For once, the doors to my father’s office were open. He was inside, sat at his desk as he contemplated the words written on a letter before him.

“Well?” I asked him as the doors shut behind me, “What’s so important that you had me woken at this hour?” I demanded, lowering myself into one of the chairs before his desk.

He looked at me with a tired expression, “A rider came here asking for help. It seems that Blue-Rock is facing another ogre attack” he said at last

I shrugged my shoulders, “So? They managed to deal with the last one just fine. Why does it require waking me up?”

He sighed, “Apparently, this attack is somewhat more substantial. A dozen ogres, I hear” he said, folding a sheet of paper and placing it into his desk draws before giving me his attention.

“A dozen?” I said quietly to myself, “What did you say, are you sending men?” I asked

He shook his head, “I said no again. I expect some of them will already be on their way here to beg as people like them do”

“So, you woke me up to tell me that the village is being attacked and you’re doing nothing. That could have waited until morning” I said with a sigh as I rubbed my eyes, I really was quite tired still.

“I must admit, I am tempted to let the ogres have their way with them. It would serve them well for allowing that bastard to get away after what he did to you” he said with distaste. “It wouldn’t cost me much; their hovels are cheap to rebuild, and I could always have more peasants shipped out here. Lord Farrow has an abundance of them, and he owes me favours after all” he said with thought, as though he was still contemplating the idea. “But no, I think we can put the ogres to better use”

I raised an eyebrow at him, “Oh? You think there’s something better than letting them die. Well, that must be interesting” I said, a little bemused

I thought I saw his lips twitch into a smile for a moment, but he disguised it quickly as he began speaking. “You seem to be enthralled with the idea of having people like you; I will concede it can be useful for a time. The test of divinities will soon be upon us, no doubt you will become an adventurer. It will help you to have a good story of your talents to get those fools around your thumb, I think defending a village from a pack of ogres will suffice”

I began to understand what he was getting at and nodded my head slowly as I shared the thought, “yes, that would be useful. Better than killing one ogre with the help of an old adventurer like Aucus will have” I said, a smile forming across my lips.

He nodded his head and let out a gruff sound, “Yes, you will take some men into the village and kill the ogres. You will not put yourself at risk, let the men do the work and finish them off. I won’t have you dying for people like them.” He said as a noise began to sound from the direction of the manor doors. “When they are dead, you will be sure to take all of the credit. Thank them for giving you assistance or some nonsense, but make sure they know that it was you that defeated the ogres”

I nod my head as I stood up from my seat moving towards the door, “I’ll take Barton and his men, they should do well enough”

“Wait” my father’s voice froze me as I reached for the door handle. I turned to look at him with a questioning expression. “You seem to want to be liked by those mites, I think it will be a better image if you had to fight me to get the men. We’ll put on a bit of a show”

I smirked at him as I understood what he meant, “Oh my. Father, are you sure you will be able to play a villain?” I asked sarcastically as he rose from his desk

“Mind your lip boy” he said as he smacked my head, “We’ll make it sound like I’ve refused your request. Are you ready?”

I nodded my head and flung the doors open with a bang, shouting some nonsense to my father as he followed me out. I walked towards the entry-way so that the villagers could listen to what was being said as I told him that I would take the men to the village no matter what he had to say about it. I heard the noise at the door quieten and saw them to turn to look at us. I gestured to the guards at the door and ordered them to come with me. Looking out at the villagers, I saw the red hair of Elsie in the mess, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. I didn’t even know she would be here; the ogres must have been sent by the goddesses.

I took the guardsmen to the armoury where we prepared for battle. A servant helped me put on the white armour that father had paid to have made for me, with it on I attached my scabbard containing a blade with a beautiful hilt to my waist. I looked around at the men who were still getting ready, hearing some grumbles about the hour.

I told them that we would be riding to the village to kill the ogres, adding that they would wound the ogres and allow me to finish them off. I also told them not to put their lives at risk to protect any of the villagers. After all, we would have to pay out to their families if they died.

At last we were ready and armed. We marched through the hallways to the entry-way where the peasants were looking at us admiringly. It was disgusting that they thought they could try to barge their way into the manor. I saw Elsie and an idea blossomed in my mind, I told Barton to take his men and mount the horses, I would be with them soon. The steel-clad men barged through the villagers, shoving them aside as they made their way to their mounts.

I stopped by Elsie, giving her my very best smile as I held my helmet under my arm. “Good luck, don’t get hurt” I heard her say as she lifted her head up to look at me.

I met her gaze, flashing my teeth as I smiled, “Thank you. In case I don’t make it back, can I get a kiss?” I asked her daringly, feeling the eyes of everyone upon us. She couldn’t say no.

She tilted her head up and I saw her purse her lips, she was only going to give me a quick kiss. That wouldn’t do. As her lips touched mine, I grabbed her by her waist and pulled her close. I kissed her passionately, as I would one of father’s harem. I tried to push my tongue into her mouth, but her lips remained a barrier to me, though she would move them over mine in clear enjoyment of the moment. At last I decided she wasn’t going to let the kiss go further and I broke it.

I released her and said my goodbyes before marching through the crowd and mounting the chestnut stallion that was waiting for me, I looked back at her one last time and saw her smiling like a fool. I put on my helmet and turned away, letting out a charge as I led the men into the village.

The ride to the village was much shorter than the walk, it was barely ten minutes when we saw the soft glow of fires and smoke rising into the night air. The sound of battle filled the air, the cries of men swinging weapons, the screams of pain as they were wounded, and of course the terrible roars of the ogres. I passed a house that had been destroyed, the corpse of an ogre apparently being the cause of the damage as it had fallen.

The sounds of battle seemed to be coming from multiple directions, Barton sidled up next to me and turned his head towards me, “Where should we go sir?” he asked in a loud and clear voice.

“You take some men and fight the ones over there” I said as I raised my sword and gestured to the left, “I’ll take four of the men and deal with what’s over there” I added as I waved to the right.

He nodded his head and barked some orders to the men before riding off to the left with a force of the guards. I turned to look at the ones that I had, they were grim faced and prepared for battle, “Well, I suppose we should charge” I said as I slammed my stirrups into the sides of the horse and began charging.

We came to a group of villagers attempting to battle three ogres. I saw four corpses laying on the ground before I looked to who was fighting, they seemed to be led by a beautiful dark-haired woman with a face that seemed to be more bruise than flesh. Still, I thought as I ran my gaze down her body and smirked to myself as I realised, she must be the one that father had beaten, Aucus’ mother. It would be a shame if she had an accident now.

I charged my horse for one of the ogres, it seemed to be the most injured and could barely move its arms properly with a spear dug into the armpit. I roared, commanding my men to follow my lead as I held out my sword in a tight grip and slashed it through the stomach of the ogre. With the aid of the force that my speed provided me I was able to cut deep enough to spill out the guts of the monster.

My horse carried on past it and I pulled on the reins to bring it to a halt, dismounting and turning to the battle. My men had followed my lead and all of the ogres seemed to have disastrous injuries, “You! Don’t just stare, attack them” I shouted to the villagers who seemed to be keeping their distance as the ogres rained attacks around them in rage. One of the villagers ran at them with a pitchfork and was caught by a powerful fist, being sent flying into a splintered building. I could barely contain a laugh as I heard his scream.

My men fell in beside me and we attacked them whilst they were distracted by the villagers. My men stabbed into the legs of one of the ogres, bringing it to the ground where I plunged my sword through the mouth and felt it slide into the brain.

One of the other villagers tried to charge the remaining ogres but the woman shouted at him to stay where he was. I frowned, it seemed she was planning on having us kill them whilst they stayed safe. A shame, I would have to try and find another time for her to have an accident.

We cut down the rest of the ogres similarly to the first one, making sure that I gave the killing blow. With the three of them dead we moved through the rest of the village, following the sounds of battle. We encountered a few more dead ogres and killed two more, it seemed that Barton and his men had been thorough in their duties. One of his men was injured, the armour on his arm mangled in an unnatural direction, though he was still alive.

I looked around at the state of the village when we were done, most of the buildings were at least partially destroyed with a few having been made into piles of rubble. A fire was starting to spread from elsewhere in the village as some of the people desperately tried to contain it. There were a lot of corpses as well, faces with blank expressions lying in the dirt as blood pooled around them. I couldn’t help but find it funny as I found one that looked like Elsie’s mother. She thought she was so brave for selling herself for the woman’s freedom and now she was dead a week later. It took all of my strength not to burst into laughter.

A group of villagers seemed to have started following me around as I moved through the village and now, I turned to address them. “People of Blue-Rock” I shouted loudly, quieting them down a bit. “Thank you for your aid. If it weren’t for you, I would not have been able to lead us to victory. You truly have an iron resolve, what are a few ogres to the men and women of the Motten lands?” I declared and received a few cheers in response. I quietened them down once more, “We suffered losses, yes. But I have no doubt that you will rebuild stronger than before. Remember this day, remember when I led you to victory, and we came out stronger for it”. It sounded like nonsense to me, but they seemed to be eating it up. They were looking at me expectantly as I finished my speech, so I raised my bloody sword into the air and heard a loud cheer emerge from the crow.

I looked around at them, surprised that so many people could be so stupid. As my gaze travelled across them, I saw Aucus’ mother leaning against the wall of one of the buildings that were the least damaged. She was frowning at me with undisguised hatred, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and let out a genuine smile.

Sephenia

It was late when I heard loud thumps coming from the path outside of my house, the sound of something heavy walking towards the village, lots of somethings. I began to worry as I remembered the ogre that had attacked just yesterday. My leg was still in no fit shape, but I could walk and if needed I would be able to run, it would hurt though. I was wearing pants and a shirt; I descended my stairs and removed my adventurer clothing from a chest.

It was a leather armour with steel pauldrons on the shoulders and elbows, I fitted my vambraces and removed the sword from where I had left it in the chest after cleaning it. I would have left it out, but Mia seemed to be fascinating with touching everything in the house at the moment.

Rosaria and Mia weren’t home yet, they had gone into the village so that Rosaria could visit a friend of hers. Clen’s mother had been close with her some years ago and she hadn’t been out much since she was released from Motten’s dungeon. I had thought it would be a good idea for her to spend time with other people, she hadn’t said anything, but I knew her time in the dungeon had shook her more than she let on.

As I finished readying myself, I contemplated taking a drink of whiskey to ease the pain in my leg, but I didn’t want to dull my reactions. I decided against it and flung my door open, running towards the village.

It wasn’t one or two ogres as I had hoped it might have been, but the rest of the pack had descended upon Blue-Rock. Thirteen in total if my count was right, it wasn’t good news. As I ran towards the village, I passed fences that had been collapsed or broken at intermittent spots. One of the houses that bordered the path had a large hole in a wall, presumably where a very large fist had punched through it.

At the sight of so many ogres I panicked and ran towards the house that Rosaria had been visiting, I wouldn’t let her get hurt. I would make sure she and Mia were safe then help the rest of the village with killing the ogres. When I got to the house I was met with loud shouts as two men were fighting an ogre next to the building.

I recognised one to be Clen. His arm was still injured, and he was swinging his axe pathetically as one of the drunks from the tavern aided him with a pitchfork. They would both die if I didn’t help them soon. We had to get the ogre away from the house, else it could destroy it and hurt anyone that was inside.

I could see Rosaria at the doorway, watching the two men fight the ogre with a pale look to her face as Mia cowered behind her, clutching at her mother’s skirts. They were still alive, that was good, I could save them.

Without a second thought, I ran at the ogre. I felt the wound in my leg reopen once more but I gritted my teeth and continued at my pace, ignoring the pain. I ran and ducked under a fist that swung towards me, slicing my sword across it’s calf with the motion before rolling to the side. The pain in my leg was terrible, I wasn’t sure that I could keep up fighting like that for long.

The ogre let out a bellow of pain and ran at Tomas, the old drunkard that was helping us fight it. As it moved Clen swung his axe at the belly of the beast, lodging it into the flesh and struggling to rip it out. I thought he was going to hold onto the weapon for a moment and be dragged along with the ogre’s motions, but he let go at last, leaving himself unarmed.

The ogre reached Tomas and kicked him with a leg that resembled a tree trunk. The blow landed into the man’s own legs and crippled him, he let out a high-pitched wail as he fell to the dirt and made an attempt of raising his pitchfork to stab the ogre. The beast grunted and began to stomp on the old man, crushing his body beyond recognition. I heard a pained gurgling coming from the mangled flesh, but it was cut off by another stomp. With Tomas dead, the ogre roared loudly and turned back to face us, his lower body splattered in crimson.

It looked at me. Fuck. I reached to my belt and felt a knife, I pulled it out and held it by the blade. I aimed at where Clen’s axe was beginning to slip out of its stomach and threw it into the wound. It hit home and the monster roared in pain again, the blow not protected by the fat that it wore as armour.

Whilst it was distracted, I ran at it. It was dangerously close to the house; a wild swing could take out the top floor. It looked at me and began to raise a fist to attack but even with a wounded leg, I was still faster. I ran through the gap that it left between its legs, with my sword raised. I felt it cut through flesh as my blade tore open its sack and decimated a length of flesh.

I hadn’t used any magic as I didn’t want to become drained at the start of the fight, with a dozen more ogres left to kill. As I emerged on the other side, I saw the ogre clutch its hands to where I had cut it. I looked at it and saw the legs quavering and begin to buckle, it fell. I looked in horror as it collapsed into Clen’s house.

The huge body of the beast fell against the wooden wall and broke it, slipping down to crush through both floors of the house and turn the structure into rubble with a cloud of dust. I screamed at the top of my lungs. Rosaria and Mia were still in there. I ran towards it, uncaring of any other threats there may have been.

The dust hit my face, tears welling in my eyes as I rubbed it out. I could hear the ogre still screaming as it clutched its mutilated body. Where were they, I thought to myself as I dropped my sword and began to move timber, desperately searching for my two charges.

I saw flesh. I quickly moved the wood and unveiled more of the body. It was Mia. I clutched at the small child, “Mia! Mia! Wake up!” I shouted as I held her to my chest, willing her to be okay. Why wouldn’t she open her eyes, she had to be okay. Tears streaked down my face as I sobbed, looking down at the innocent corpse.

Rosaria, where was she? They were together in the house. I gently laid Mia down away from the rubble and began to move timber again. I heard a noise and lifted a large plank to reveal Rosaria. She had a been crushed by the weight of the ogre and blood was quickly seeping out from her torso. “Se- Sephi?” she coughed up blood as her eyes lazily rolled onto me.

I nodded my head as I cried and held her head in my lap, cradling it with what care I could offer to the dying woman. “Yeah, Ro. I’m here, it’s going to be okay”

She smiled “Liar” she said and coughed up some more blood, “Where’s Mia? Is she okay?” she said, desperately trying to look around as realisation hit her.

I stroked her cheek; Mia was laying behind me, out of sight of her mother. “Yeah, Mia is okay. Maya’s looking after her right now” I lied and saw a smile cross the woman’s face.

“Good” she said, “Will you look after her for me, Sephi?” she said. I nodded my head, unable to form the words. She died.

I pulled her mangled body from the rubble and laid her next to her daughter, they looked almost peaceful. What I wouldn’t have given to have that kind of peace.

Clen was searching the destroyed house now, he had pulled his axe from the ogre and was shouting his mother’s name as he lifted up timber and threw it aside. I couldn’t help him now, I had to get back to the battle. I could mourn later.

I followed the cries of battle and found a group of the villagers trying to battle three ogres that had apparently chosen to remain together. There were already three corpses laying in the dirt as they thrusted pitchforks and spears at the monsters. I shouted orders for them to move back in time for one of them to avoid a sweeping blow. One of them did not listen to me and was thrown against a wall, his neck broke.

I couldn’t take three ogres by myself, even on a good day which today was not. The best I could hope for was to keep these people alive as long as I could, maybe everyone else could find sanctuary at the manor, or at least run away from here.

One of the ogres ran at me. I dodged and slashed, ordering the others to keep their distance as I began to back up. I heard a rumbling in the distance, the sound of hoofbeats. What was a horse doing here? Why hadn’t it ran? I couldn’t turn to look. I held my sword with resolve, telling one of them to strike when the closest ogre became distracted.

A brown horse ran past me, carrying a figure clad in white armour. His sword was held outright, and it slashed across the closest ogre. It gouged deeply and I saw as the guts began to spill out, the monster clutched at its stomach and tilted its head upwards letting out a pained sound.

More horses charged past as the first figure dismounted, his face concealed by a helmet. He shouted for us to attack the ogres. I tried to warn the others back, the ogres were enraged right now and would react quickly. One of them ignored me and charged with a pitchfork, he was met by a fist and flew through the air towards a destroyed building as he screamed.

The other men in armour dismounted, bear crests on their cloaks. They descended on the ogres, cutting them down as the one in white finished them off whilst they were defenceless. I warned the others to remain away and keep their distance, these were Motten’s men, and it was his duty to defend the village. I wasn’t a monster hunter anymore; he had made that clear.

The one in white armour finished off the third ogre and removed his helmet, he had a young face and dark hair. Someone like that with such fine armour, it could only be Zarin. The bastard.

I met his gaze before he started moving on from the corpses and towards the rest of the village. I was exhausted, I almost collapsed right there but I checked to see if the others had any wounds, then went to check on the man who had been thrown into the building. He was dead, impaled on a spike of wood.

I recognised too many of the dead as I walked through the village, passing both human and ogre corpses. This was his fault. Motten should have had men stationed at the village, men who knew how to fight. He should have had me hunting monsters before they could ever get this close. The dead were on his hands.

I rested against a wall, feeling tears trickling from my eyes once more as the night settled on me. Zarin turned to face the group that had started following him around, his mouth started moving. I heard him give a speech congratulating himself, for what? I thought, he had only finished off dying ogres. It was we who had suffered, we who had bled, we who had died. His men had done what they should have been doing since the beginning and he made it out like he had sacrificed so much to protect the village singlehandedly. I looked around at the destruction that was his protection.

His speech came to a close and I scowled at him, Well done Aucus, I only wish you’d killed him, I thought to myself as I met the gaze of the young man. I hated him in that moment.

After he departed back to his manor, I rose from where I had slumped to the ground. I had to take care of Rosaria and Mia, I had to… I couldn’t even think it. I broke out into a sob, tears streaking my cheeks uncontrollably as the image of their corpses flashed through my mind.